Latest news with #atmosphericriver
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Atmospheric river soaks through B.C.'s weekend, up to 100 mm possible
A Gulf of Alaska low-pressure system is ushering in significant rainfall and a cooldown for B.C.'s South Coast, bringing fall-like conditions to the region. This developing system will draw in a stream of Pacific moisture, establishing an atmospheric river along the B.C. coastline. The rainy event kicked off Thursday and is forecast to stick around through Saturday for many. SEE ALSO: It will be a highly beneficial rainfall since it will be spread out over a more extended period of time. The recent dry conditions across the B.C. coastline have been a huge contributor for the wildfires in the area. However, we will also see some hazards pop up from the heavy rains. Atmospheric river brings relief and hazards into the weekend This event will be classified as an atmospheric river. An atmospheric river is exactly what it sounds like – it's a long, narrow river of water vapour in the lower atmosphere. These rivers in the sky transport moisture from the subtropics to the mid-latitudes and are ranked in intensity on a scale of 1-5. Rainfall intensity will vary across regions, but folks can expect an AR2 event through Friday across Vancouver Island and along the South Coast, and an AR3 event on Saturday for the central coast. The rain will begin to ease on Saturday for the south as the atmospheric river shifts northward. Mountainous regions could see over 75 mm of rain over the weekend with this event. The South Coast and Lower Mainland could see 30-50 mm of rain, with the bulk of it falling on Friday. RELATED: Localized flooding will be a hazard to look out for if the ground is unable to soak up the rains fast enough. Roadways will also become slick and visibility may be reduced during particularly heavy periods of rain. This rainfall will, however, provide much-needed relief for ongoing wildfires and level 3 drought conditions on Vancouver Island and parts of the B.C. coastline. It will only take recording over 28 mm of rain to reach the record for the rainiest day in Vancouver so far in 2025--which we could very well see happen on Friday. If the rain reaches 40 mm, Friday would become one of the top five rainiest August days on record! Cooling temperatures and summer snow Freezing levels will drop below 3000 m on Saturday and to around 2500 m Sunday, with some high-elevation snow possible on mountain peaks near Tsʼilʔos Provincial Park. A shift to drier conditions with a warming trend is anticipated by mid to late next week. Temperatures are forecast to remain cooler than seasonal from late this week into the weekend and early next week. However, a return to seasonal temperatures—and potentially warmer-than-seasonal conditions—is expected later in the week. Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your weather across B.C. WATCH: Prairies drive the second worst fire season on record in Canada Click here to view the video
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Atmospheric River Threatens to Flood the US Northwest and Break Records
A potentially record-breaking atmospheric river will sweep off the Pacific Ocean this week, soaking the US Northwest and neighboring British Columbia. Heavy rainfall warnings have been posted across the southern tier of the Canadian province, including Vancouver, Environment and Climate Change Canada said. The moisture content from the looming storm will rival records set in September 1957 on Washington's Olympic Peninsula just west of Seattle, said Peter Mullinax, a forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Atmospheric river reaches Mid-Atlantic, bringing dangerous downpours
An intensifying atmospheric river that caused more than 10 inches of rain to fall in the South is surging into the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday. The storm is stretching 1,000 miles from South Florida to southern Pennsylvania, bringing intense rain to some areas, including more than 4 inches in the mountains of western North Carolina — some of the heaviest downpours since the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit in September.
Washington Post
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Intensifying storm drenching a swath from Florida to Virginia
An intensifying atmospheric river that has drenched parts of the South with as much as 9 inches of flooding rain will surge north and east on Monday. The storm, which caused a waterspout and tornado in Pensacola, Florida, over the weekend, is stretching 1,000 miles from South Florida to southern Pennsylvania, bringing intense rain to some areas, including some of the heaviest downpours since Hurricane Helene in the western Carolinas.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Will an atmospheric river event end Florida's fire season?
Residents of the Sunshine State, who have been experiencing drought conditions and increased wildfire threats during the spring, may soon get a temporary reprieve, as an atmospheric river event promises to deliver the heaviest precipitation since winter. Forecast models show widespread rainfall, with totals ranging from around an inch in the least impacted areas to possibly upwards of a foot in communities that see repeated rounds of thunderstorms. While atmospheric rivers are often associated with winter storms on the West Coast, the phenomenon can occur elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world wherever deep tropical moisture is involved. The FOX Forecast Center says the system responsible for this surge of precipitation is a low-pressure system that has become cut off from the main jet stream, making it slow-moving and capable of producing prolonged rain. "When the low pressure is vertically stacked from the floor, all the way to the top of the troposphere, it doesn't really move that fast because nothing's pushing around. That's what we have. And that's that area of low is going to jack that coal front down and siphon a lot of moisture off the Gulf and the Caribbean too," said FOX Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen. Florida won't be the only state impacted, as a broad swath of heavy precipitation is expected to stretch from Louisiana to the Carolinas, which will last into the first half of the upcoming workweek. "It's picking up in intensity, and it's going to be even worse - later on - as we go through the day into Sunday and Monday," Van Dillen stated. New To Florida? Here's When The Sunshine State's Rainy Season Gets Underway But for the Sunshine State, the rain could help suppress wildfire activity during what is considered to be the peak of the fire season. Most rainfall deficits in Florida currently range from 2 to 6 inches, with 96% of the state considered to be unusually dry and 25% experiencing severe drought conditions, according to the latest drought monitor. The areas expected to receive the most rainfall are along the I-10 corridor, from Pensacola through Tallahassee and Jacksonville. In contrast, the least amount of rain is expected well south of the I-4 corridor in South Florida. Unfortunately, that's where most of the fires have been, with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue recently responding to a large grass fire burning between Florida City and the Florida Keys. Where You Can Ditch The Rain At Universal's Epic Universe Theme Park So, while the persistent rain will be welcome news, the areas in the most desperate shape may see the least relief. And of course, any thunderstorms that form have the potential to cause flash flooding and lightning, which can, in some cases, spark new fires. Still, the developing atmospheric river is, overall, just what the doctor ordered and will serve as a reprieve until the state's wet season kicks in during the next month or article source: Will an atmospheric river event end Florida's fire season?
