atmospheric river
noun
plural atmospheric rivers
: a concentrated band of water vapor that flows through the atmosphere and that is a significant part of the global hydrologic cycle and an important source of regional precipitation
Environment Canada is working on a new system to rank atmospheric rivers, a type of weather system that damaged highways, flooded farms and homes, and left at least four people dead in southern B.C. earlier this week.—
Wendy Stueck
Wendy StueckAtmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationIn a typical year, significant atmospheric river storms occur about 10 to 15 times in California. Ultimately, they account for up to 50% of the state's precipitation.—Paul Rogers
Paul RogersExamples of atmospheric river in a Sentence
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Nemeth noted that in the spring of 2023 when California was being drenched with atmospheric river storms, 156,000 cubic feet of water per second — an enormous amount similar to the flow of the Columbia River — was flowing through the Delta and under the Golden Gate Bridge out to the sea.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025
After that, most of the atmospheric rivers that hit the West Coast from October into January veered northward into Washington, Oregon and Northern California instead.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
After a reasonably active summer with with the Park Fire, significant atmospheric river storms from October through December led to above average precipitation levels.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
Bone-dry conditions in Southern California contrast with the northern parts of the state, where atmospheric rivers have squelched fire risks.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
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Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025
After that, most of the atmospheric rivers that hit the West Coast from October into January veered northward into Washington, Oregon and Northern California instead.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
After a reasonably active summer with with the Park Fire, significant atmospheric river storms from October through December led to above average precipitation levels.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
Bone-dry conditions in Southern California contrast with the northern parts of the state, where atmospheric rivers have squelched fire risks.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atmospheric river
Dictionary Entries Near atmospheric river
Cite this Entry
“Atmospheric river.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atmospheric%20river. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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