Winter Storm Brings Severe Weather to Nine States, Captured by NOAA Satellites
A powerful winter storm struck nine states across the western United States, as an atmospheric river traversed the region and caused widespread disruption. Winter weather warnings were issued as the storm unleashed heavy rain, snow, and strong winds, impacting California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
The storm followed in the wake of a previous system that saturated the ground in California, resulting in catastrophic flooding, particularly in Los Angeles County. This second storm intensified the risk of flooding due to the already soaked terrain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured satellite imagery of the atmospheric river moving ominously across the U.S. The agency’s observations prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue weather warnings for the nine states in the storm’s path.
This morning, NOAA’s GOESWest is continuing to monitor a large Atmospheric River bringing flooding rains, strong winds, and coastal flooding to southern California, tweeted NOAA. The system is also bringing the threat for heavy mountain snow to parts of the Great Basin and southern Rockies.
Atmospheric rivers are characterized as long, narrow corridors in the atmosphere that transport significant amounts of water vapor, similar to rivers in the sky, as defined by NOAA.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center’s meteorologist and forecaster Ashton Robinson Cook explained that the atmospheric river is a part of a broader storm system currently moving inland. Although the system still centers over western California, it is gradually shifting towards the interior western U.S., leading to heavy snowfall in areas ranging from Arizona to Wyoming.
The impacted states faced winter weather warnings, including the threat of heavy snowfall. As a result, travel conditions are expected to be challenging, with some areas potentially seeing impossible travel conditions. The NWS office in Pocatello, Idaho, warned, The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
The system is anticipated to continue traversing the Intermountain West for several days before moving into the central United States.
The ongoing storm serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and precautionary measures during severe weather events. Residents in the affected states are urged to stay updated with the latest weather advisories and to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
As the storm proceeds, local authorities and emergency response teams will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance to those in need.
