Atmospheric rivers can be beneficial — but also destructive. Here's what to know about the weather phenomenon on the West Coast and beyond.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

An unusually potent storm will bring significant precipitation to the East Coast throughout Wednesday and into the night.

An atmospheric river is poised to open the floodgates, with torrential rains and gusty winds expected to thrash the West Coast starting Wednesday. California is expected to bear the brunt of the ...

Then an atmospheric river could arrive when they least expect it —anytime, not just during the rainy season — and produce extreme weather for days or weeks on end.

What is an atmospheric river? Here's what to know For the West Coast, just a few atmospheric river storms can deliver roughly 30 to 50% of the region's annual precipitation, according to NOAA.

At atmospheric river continues to slam portions of California Tuesday, with multiple inches of rain expected until Wednesday morning.

Atmospheric rivers: What they are and how they impact Northern California weather An atmospheric river is not heavy rain or snow, but the moisture within an atmospheric river can be an ingredient ...

An image created using satellite data showing an atmospheric river hitting the West Coast on January 4, 2023. The long blue plume is the river, funneling extreme amounts of precipitation to the coast.

The term “atmospheric river” was coined in 1994 and has since quickly gained popularity. But what does it really mean?

An atmospheric river is a weather feature that can be beneficial and crucial, but can also be a damaging event - particularly for those near the West Coast of the United States. The definition: An ...

The Northwest is bracing for a strong storm system fueled by an atmospheric river and bomb cyclone. What do those terms mean?