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After tracking a series of atmospheric rivers that have drenched California this year, NOAA satellites

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monitored the latest storm to begin 
impacting the state on March 19, 2023.

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Rain and snow have triggered flash flooding, causing numerous

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evacuations and leaving over 350,000 without power.

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Heavy rains displaced residents in farming communities in Pajaro River and Salinas River Valley.

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Along the coast, the rain caused mudslides and sinkholes.

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Meanwhile, in the Sierra Nevada mountains,
 towns were buried underneath snow.

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The atmospheric river fueled a mid-latitude cyclone that led to the formation of a hurricane-like eye

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when two low pressure areas converged over San Francisco.

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GOES-18 monitored the atmospheric river in near real-time as it approached the western U.S.

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GOES-18’s Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument

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measured the moisture in the atmosphere.

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The JPSS satellites allow scientists to probe the atmosphere vertically

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with the use of microwave sounding instruments.

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The satellites collect data on on temperature 
and moisture in the atmosphere.

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The data collected by JPSS allows forecasters to give warnings on heavy

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rain and snow up to several days in advance.

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Meanwhile, JPSS’s VIIRS instrument can 
observe flooding and snow with detailed imagery.

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Data from JPSS’s VIIRS and GOES-18’s ABI are used to produce

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flood maps. These flood maps can help

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reveal the impact and location of flooding.

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As the U.S West Coast endures successive atmospheric rivers,
NOAA satellites will be on watch.

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Earth From Orbit: More Heavy Rain, Snow and Wind Hitting Western U.S.

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Flood map imagery courtesy of SSEC.

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NASA Meatball

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