Severe Atmospheric River Impacts Northern California with Heavy Rain and Flood Advisories
Northern California is experiencing a significant atmospheric river event, resulting in heavy rainfall and flood advisories in Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties. The storm, characterized by interactions between tropical moisture and polar air masses, is expected to continue impacting the region with additional rain and high surf advisories through the weekend.
An intense atmospheric river event continued to impact Northern California, particularly the Bay Area, on its second day. The National Weather Service reported that Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties were under a flood advisory until early Saturday. Rainfall was particularly substantial, with totals exceeding 7 inches recorded at the Santa Rosa Airport and over 10 inches in the coastal mountains of Sonoma County.
Additionally, a high surf advisory was issued for the Bay Area coast, warning of large waves ranging from 14 to 22 feet along various beaches. The storm’s strength was attributed to the interaction of tropical moisture and a rapid pressure drop from a polar air mass meeting tropical air, resulting in bomb cyclogenesis.
Significant storm-related issues have included downed trees, power lines, and widespread power outages. Although the intense southerly winds were expected to diminish, they were not anticipated to improve significantly until Friday evening. Rainfall in the North Bay may ease slightly, yet additional precipitation between 1 and 3 inches is likely in the valleys, with potentially up to 6 inches in mountain areas.
As the storm progressed, precipitation patterns were expected to shift, with more uniform rainfall across the Bay Area anticipated by Friday. Furthermore, forecasts indicated that after the atmospheric river conditions dissipated, the region could still see additional rain showers through the weekend and into the early week, culminating in expected totals of up to 6 inches in specific areas like Santa Rosa.
The phenomenon of an atmospheric river consists of moisture-laden air streams that can result in prolonged heavy rainfall, particularly in coastal regions. This current event has highlighted the societal impact of such storm systems, driving flood advisories and significant weather warnings across Northern California. In addition to rainfall, the interaction of different air masses during these storms can lead to drastic shifts in weather patterns, causing issues such as flooding and power outages, often necessitating public safety measures and emergency responses.
In summary, the ongoing atmospheric river event in Northern California is producing significant rainfall, particularly in the North Bay, along with associated flood warnings and coastal advisories. The combination of tropical moisture and rapid pressure changes has led to hazardous conditions, prompting public safety concerns. Forecasters also predict continued rain in the upcoming days, underscoring the potential for further impacts across the region.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
