An atmospheric shift in the weather has been taking its toll on the West of the U.S. This sign of climate change is something atypical. Under previous circumstances, the West tends to be dry most of the year, with the exception of parts of Washington State.
Under the relatively new weather phenomenon called the ‘atmospheric river’, this is causing an inordinate level of floods, including West’s highways and byways.
Most travellers resort to flights for their winter traveling especially during the holiday seasons. When storms and bad weather, as with the effects of the atmospheric river, delay or cancel flights, people consider cars to resume their travels. Cars, like other vehicles, are not immune to the dangers of the atmospheric river.
“In fact, bad weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and strong winds can make driving more dangerous and can lead to an increase in car accidents. These conditions can reduce visibility, make roads slick and slippery, and make it harder for drivers to control their vehicles,” according to representatives of Morris Injury Law, a Las Vegas car accident lawyer in a message sent to Digital Journal. The law firm goes on to say that if a person has been injured in a car accident, they should consider taking legal action, especially if appropriate safety measures have not been taken by local authorities or warnings provided.
Atmospheric river
As to what is an atmospheric river and why is it causing travel havoc on Western roads in the U.S., according to a new report by the Washington Post, The West Coast which is typically known for being drought-stricken and dry has been facing a bombardment of atmospheric rivers.
These are plumes of tropical moisture that can result in snow and heavy rains. Many parts of California which include the Bay Area are presently under flood watch while a new batch of atmospheric rivers is set to soak to the West over the course of the next few weeks.
Weather alerts for snow and wind in the mountains and heavy rain in the lowlands have hit much of Northern and Central California while coastal Washington and Oregon are also under high wind warnings, plus flood and heavy snow watches. All of this translates into hazardous road conditions and travel.
Atmospheric rivers are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 regarding how much moisture they can transport from the tropics to the mid-latitudes. The present atmospheric river event is ranked at 4. This means that an extreme moisture event is currently underway. This means dangerous road conditions.
The present atmospheric river will likely carry more than 220 million pounds of moisture through the skies over the Pacific coast every single second which will provide the fuel necessary for raging downpours or rain bombs.
A prolonged atmospheric river
Presently, a heavy band of moisture is said to stretch from Central California, south of the San Francisco Bay Area all the way out to 1,000 miles to the north of Hawaii. The central moisture core is said to be about 200 to 300 miles wide and is traveling eastward.
The large band of moisture is said to be pulled east by a ball of counter clockwise-spinning low pressure that appears to be moving ashore from the Pacific Northwest region. A portion of the moisture is introduced to that same low-pressure system. When combined with cold air in the atmosphere, it is creating lots of snow in the highlands and rainstorms in the lowlands.
The U.S. National Weather Service has also issued a coastal flood advisory for much of northwest Washington including Seattle, due to the high winds that are anticipated to gather along the coastline, pushing water landward. The weather service indicates that parks, lots, and roads are expected to flood. The atmospheric river also presents challenges for agricultural businesses as well as considerable travel dangers.
