The first in a series of back-to-back atmospheric rivers arrived in California on Wednesday, as forecasters warn the severe storms will batter the state with heavy downpours, strong gusty winds and risks of flash floods.
Both “pineapple express” atmospheric river systems – which pull streams of moisture from the Pacific near the Hawaiian islands before making landfall along the west coast – have the potential to wreak havoc, especially in vulnerable areas where past wildfires have left burn scars, or where the landscape has already been saturated by previous rains. The storms will also dump heavy snow over the Sierra and intermountain west region and churn up high surf along the coasts.
