atmospheric river
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of atmospheric river
First recorded in 1990–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“While this storm is not expected to be as intense as the atmospheric river we experienced in December, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and dangerous surf can still create serious hazards, including flooding and debris flows.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
That comes after a series of atmospheric river storms resulted in downtown Los Angeles’ wettest start to the water year, which begins Oct. 1., since 2011.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026
After several atmospheric river systems have come through, familiar conditions are set to return to the region later this week.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2026
Heavy rain from an atmospheric river system caused flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas still scarred by wildfires.
From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025
Residents in the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada are bracing for what could be record setting floods as an atmospheric river dumps heavy rain on already swollen rivers.
From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.