Yet another "atmospheric river" weather event is nearing landfall over the west coast, set to bring heavy snow and rain.
It will make landfall later on February 27 and bring heavy snowfall over the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, an update from the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes reported.
The weather event is set to last for several days, and western states should brace for heavy rainfall that is likely to last until March 1.
Atmospheric rivers are flows of concentrated, tropical moisture that travel through the atmosphere. They transport moisture from the equator towards the North and South poles and, when they are released, cause a deluge of rainfall and snow.
This is not the only one the West has seen in recent weeks. California has been subject to many since the start of this month, which caused severe flooding and landslides, particularly in the south of the state.
The center reports that this atmospheric river will be accompanied by a low-pressure system, which causes winds and cloudy skies. This will likely extend the weather event for some days, particularly over California, with the state at risk of heavy rainfall until March 3.
There will also be "significant precipitation" along the Washington and Oregon coasts over the next seven days, the NWS Weather Prediction Center reports, as well as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades mountain range.
Both ranges have a high chance of snowfall reaching over 36 inches. In the Sierra Nevada, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes is predicting "high probabilities of significant snowfall."
As the atmospheric river moves down the coast of the western states, there is a chance of flooding, with the center advising residents to "stay alert" for official National Weather Service forecasts and weather warnings over the coming days.
If the forecasts are right about heavy snowfall in the mountains, it will mean a healthy build-up of snowpack that will melt in the warmer months and feed into the lakes, which is good news for western rivers and reservoirs.
Last year, a series of atmospheric rivers drastically improved their drought status. The storms helped build above average snowpack levels, which melted in the spring and replenished the region's reservoirs and rivers, which had been facing a severe water shortage.
California's snowpack buildup has already drastically improved with the recent storms, but it is not having quite the same effect.
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
