UAlbany Expert: Powerful Atmospheric River Brings Record Rainfall to California

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2024) — After days of heavy rainfall in California, a powerful atmospheric river continues to make its way through the state and head eastward.

Record rainfall totals as high as 10 inches or more have brought extreme flooding and landslides to the Golden State. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 130,000 California customers were without power and at least three people have been confirmed killed.

Ryan Torn, chair and professor at the University at Albany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences is an expert on atmospheric predictability and numerical weather prediction models. He’s leading research in collaboration with the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes that seeks to improve our ability to predict atmospheric rivers along the U.S. West Coast, including where to take additional observations to reduce forecast uncertainty.

Unlike many of the recent atmospheric rivers to hit California, Torn said this storm was not well forecasted in the days ahead, as the storm strengthened as it neared the coast.

“This was a notable event because the associated winter storm deepened near the central California coast, leading to high winds, a nearly stalled atmospheric river and heavy precipitation,” Torn said. “Typically, most atmospheric rivers that impact California are associated with winter storms that are decaying by the time they reach the state. That led to this storm not being well forecasted more than three days ahead of time.”

Torn is available for phone or live/taped interviews. UAlbany also has an on-campus television studio available for remote interviews.

About the University at Albany:

The University at Albany is one of the most diverse public research institutions in the nation and a national leader in educational equity and social mobility. As a Carnegie-classified R1 institution, UAlbany and its faculty and students are creating critical new knowledge in fields such as artificial intelligence, atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, education, public health, social sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering, informatics, public administration and social welfare. Our courses are taught by an accomplished roster of faculty experts with student success at the center of everything we do. Through our parallel commitments to academic excellence, scientific discovery and service to community, UAlbany molds bright, curious and engaged leaders and launches great careers.

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