What Are ‘Atmospheric Rivers’ And Why Are They Supercharging East Coast Storms?

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, reports on the intensifying role of atmospheric rivers—narrow corridors of concentrated moisture—in driving extreme weather on the U.S. East Coast. A recent storm in western Maryland, dropping over six inches of rain in a day, is one example. McIntyre explains how these phenomena, including the well-known Pineapple Express, are transporting massive amounts of moisture from the Pacific and beyond, fueling destructive storms across the country.