The National Weather Service has issued a significant weather advisory for an approaching atmospheric river event that is expected to impact the West Coast, particularly California, from January 31 to February 6, 2024. This event is anticipated to bring heavy rain, high winds, and substantial snowfall at higher elevations.
The forecast indicates a 60 to 80% chance of above-normal precipitation along the West Coast, stretching from southern Oregon through California and extending inland into the Great Basin and the Desert Southwest during the specified period.
A high-risk scenario, with a greater than 60% chance of hazardous, heavy precipitation, is expected across California and Arizona. Additionally, a larger area with a moderate risk (40 to 60% chance) includes most of Nevada, southern Utah, and parts of New Mexico.
The potential impacts of this atmospheric river event include localized flooding and landslides, particularly in regions that have recently experienced heavy rains.
Higher elevations, such as the Sierra Nevada, Klamath Mountains, and the Mogollon Rim, are expected to witness heavy snowfall.