Atmospheric Rivers Boosting, Reservoir Water Levels , in California .
'Newsweek' reports that one northern California
reservoir gained five feet of water following two
atmospheric rivers across much of the Pacific Northwest. .
According to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, an atmospheric river is a , "long, narrow region in the atmosphere—
like rivers in the sky—that transport most
of the water vapor outside of the tropics.".
Last year, over a dozen of these storms slammed into
California, largely ending the state's long drought while
also posing new problems like floods and mudslides.
Lake Shasta in Shasta County has
already seen benefits from the latest
atmospheric river to cross the region.
On January 19, water levels at
Lake Shasta were at 1,015 feet. .
Just three days later, the lake had
risen five feet, reaching 1,020 feet. .
According to National Weather Service (NWS)
meteorologist Kate Forrest, up to eight-and-a-half
inches of rain had fallen since the storm started.
The California Department of Water Resources
said that Lake Shasta was up to
71% capacity following the deluge of rain.
The NWS issued a flood watch for
Shasta County early on January 22,
with more rain forecast to be on the way.
According to the NWS, isolated thunderstorms with
heavy rains are forecast to hit in the afternoon,
followed by a weaker storm system on January 24