Stunning visuals: A giant tornado and an atmospheric river

news7g01/12/2023

3 1 minute read

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Sometimes you see meteorological pictures and just say wow.

Today, a giant low center extends over much of the northeastern Pacific, while an impressive plume of moisture – an atmospheric river – stretches southwest-northeast toward the coast. California.

This morning’s infrared satellite image shows the situation, with white areas showing higher clouds.

Want to be even more impressed? This is a steam satellite image of the same time, watching the spread of water vapor into space. Scary for northern California!

For reference, here is a simultaneous sea level pressure analysis, with low temperature and wind also shown. Probably the largest low pressure center I can remember spread over a large area. With warm air from the southwest to the south (orange). It is an atmospheric river.

To really get there, here’s a simultaneous map (this morning) of efficiently diagnosing atmospheric rivers, integrated steam transport, TTTON. This describes the amount of water vapor pushed around by the wind.

The blue color indicates very high values in the core of the atmospheric river.

Substantial rainfall will drop today and tomorrow in California and Oregon from this atmospheric river (see forecast below). Northern California is the Golden State’s most unusually dry region. No more.