A rare tornado warning was issued for Shelter Cove as high winds downed trees and power lines, leaving nearly 2,000 people without power, and prompted road closures in Humboldt County on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Powerful waves from a series of atmospheric rivers caused the Santa Cruz Wharf to collapse, claimed the life of a man at Sunset State Beach, and left another missing at Marina State Beach on Monday, December 23, 2024.
A powerful AR4 atmospheric river made landfall in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California on November 19, 2024, bringing prolonged rainfall, heavy snowfall, and significant flooding risks that are expected to worsen through November 22. Meteorologists warn that the storm could bring up to 380 mm (15 inches) of rain to the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada, with some areas potentially receiving more.
The latest model guidance suggests a major atmospheric river could hit the Pacific Northwest and Northern California early next week, with the ECMWF EPS control member forecasting AR3-4 conditions from central Oregon to Northern California. Although timing and duration remain uncertain, 70% of EPS members predict AR4 or AR5 conditions in coastal southern Oregon, according to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E).
A strong Atmospheric River is set to bring significant low-elevation rain and high-elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California beginning Tuesday evening, November 12, 2024. The system will continue moving eastward, impacting a wide swath of the western and central United States with varied precipitation, including rain, snow, and thunderstorms.
Two atmospheric rivers are set to bring heavy rainfall and flood risks to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California from November 10 to November 14. The storms are expected to bring significant precipitation, with the heaviest rainfall forecast for the Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mountains. The peak rainfall is predicted to occur between November 10 and November 13.
A powerful atmospheric river (AR) is expected to bring significant rainfall to the West Coast, particularly affecting Washington and Oregon starting October 25, 2024, and continuing into early October 27. Following this, a second AR may impact the California-Mexico border and parts of the southwestern U.S. on October 28 – 29.
