New atmospheric river storm pushes into California
The first in a new series of atmospheric rivers has pushed into California and forecasters warn that widespread heavy rain will raise the threat of flooding in a state still digging out from earlier storms
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first in a new series of atmospheric rivers flowed into California on Thursday, and forecasters warned that widespread heavy rain would raise the threat of flooding in a state still digging out from earlier storms.
Rain spread across the north by early afternoon. But forecasters said the heart of the atmospheric river wouldn't arrive until late in the day. The heaviest downpours were expected to last into early Friday, followed by lesser precipitation.
The flood threat will come from the combination of rain and the melting of lower parts of the huge snowpack built in California's mountains by nine atmospheric rivers early in the winter and later storms fueled by a blast of arctic air.
The new atmospheric river is a type known as a “Pineapple Express” because it is a deep tap of warm subtropical moisture stretching over the Pacific to Hawaii. Its greatest impacts were expected in northern and central California, with much less precipitation in the south.
