Weather Officials Warn of Another Atmospheric River Approaching California After Previous One Ends

California has been experiencing an unusually active winter season, with a series of moisture-laden storms bringing epic amounts of rain and high snowfall totals. While these storms have helped alleviate persistent drought conditions in some areas, they have also caused negative consequences such as flooding, mudslides, and destructive winds. This week, another atmospheric river generated extreme wind gusts in the San Francisco Bay Area and flooding rain in the Los Angeles basin, with heavy, wet snow across the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada.

Despite the challenges posed by these storms, California will experience dry and settled conditions for a brief period due to high pressure. However, AccuWeather meteorologists predict that stormy weather will return next week, with a deep plume of subtropical moisture expected to bring heavy rain and mountain snow. This could pose significant challenges for residents, including difficult travel, additional power outages, and flooding problems. Ski resorts across the Sierra may also flirt with the all-time highest snow total record.

These storms have also caused Yosemite National Park to shut down, while many reservoirs have risen above their maximum capacity levels. However, they have essentially rebounded many reservoirs to their historical averages. AccuWeather's long-range forecasters predict that more storms are likely into the end of the month.