Millions of people in California are going to weather the impacts of a new storm slated to hit the Golden State on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
An atmospheric river recently slammed California, extending further south than is typical for this early in the season and bringing flooding rains to Los Angeles, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders amid concerns for mudslides and floods in recently burned areas.
Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere—like a river in the sky—that transport water vapor outside of the tropics, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storms brought by atmospheric rivers are known for heavy snow, heavy rain and strong winds. They are more commonly found on the West Coast, particularly during the winter months.
What to Know
The incoming storm doesn’t have all the qualities of an atmospheric river, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Heather Zehr told Newsweek, primarily because the storm is coming from the northwest rather than originating in the tropics. However, it will bring heavy rain to parts of Southern California, adding to the flood issues the region experienced over the weekend.
The new moisture-laden storm will saturate nearly the entire state from Wednesday night through Thursday night according to a forecast from AccuWeather, bringing rainfall from the Oregon border in the north all the way south through San Diego. Mountain snow is expected for high-elevation areas…