Atmospheric rivers are crucial to California's water supply, producing up to 50% of annual precipitation, but excessive storms can lead to severe hazards like flooding.
When atmospheric rivers are blown over land, the moisture cools and condenses, resulting in heavy rains or snowfall, depending on the elevation.
For a storm to be classified as an atmospheric river, it must reach an Integrated Water Vapor Transport threshold of 250 units, with those over 1,000 being deemed extreme.
Atmospheric rivers, particularly the 'Pineapple Express' from tropical regions, can deliver intense storms to North America's west coast, impacting areas from California to Canada.
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