atmospheric river

[at-muhs-fer-ik riv-er, -feer-]

noun

Meteorology.

1. a long, narrow corridor in the atmosphere that transports massive amounts of concentrated water vapor from the tropics: often responsible for extratropical cyclones and other extreme weather events, but also for commonly weaker systems of rain that replenish water supplies. AR

Word History and Origins

Origin of atmospheric river¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

But this year, the region was hit by an early atmospheric river rain storm that left the landscape drenched.

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The storm, classified as a weak, or Level 1, atmospheric river brought enough moisture to Southern California’s drought-stricken landscape to delay fire season for weeks, if not months, said Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

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“In a way this is like a Goldilocks atmospheric river,” Ralph said.

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With an atmospheric river bringing rain and snow to California this week, the state’s mountains began to change from summer brown to winter white.

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An atmospheric river storm hit the Los Angeles area in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing the risk of flooding, thunderstorms and powerful winds.

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