What is Atmospheric River?
In April 2025, a large part of the US experienced heavy rain, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms due to a meteorological phenomenon known as an Atmospheric River (AR).This phenomenon, though not new, is gaining attention due to climate change and increasing extreme weather events.An atmospheric river is often described as a “river in the sky”. It refers to a relatively long and narrow band in the atmosphere that transports enormous amounts of water vapor from the tropical oceans to continental regions. Unlike rivers on Earth, they are not visible.The “Pineapple Express” is a well-known example of AR storms that bring heavy rainfall to the US West Coast, particularly California.
