An atmospheric river event is expected to sweep through California next week — and Stanislaus County residents should brace for heavy rain and strong winds.
The atmospheric river event will move south along the West Coast from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, the National Weather Service wrote in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.
“There is a 60% to 80% chance of above-normal precipitation across much of the West Coast, Southwest and Intermountain West,” the weather service said, lasting through Feb. 5.
What is an atmospheric river event?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an atmospheric river is an area in the atmosphere that carries water vapor outside of the tropics.
“The average atmospheric river carries an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River,” the administration’s website states.
When an atmospheric river “makes landfall,” it often releases this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.