A respite from the torrential rains that sent more than 4.5 million Californians to watch the flooding is coming, but it won’t last long.
Weather forecasters say rainfall is expected to subside and the state will see some dry weather starting Thursday. However, a new wave of atmospheric rivers – essentially conveyor belts of tropical moisture, like the so-called Pineapple Express — is expected to arrive on Saturday.
The National Weather Service’s Center for Forecasting says parts of California and the Pacific Northwest can expect sustained rainfall early next week, though it will be less intense than the previous week. recent storms. But another, possibly heavier, storm could hit the area on Tuesday.
Of course, the rain won’t last forever.
Computer forecasting models are showing a possible change in weather patterns over the next weekend, which will most likely end this multi-week atmospheric river event.
“Gradually, it looks like we’re going to have a paradigm shift that allows the faucets to be turned off,” said David Novak, director of the Weather Prediction Center. “And that would of course be good news.”
All of the recent rainfall isn’t enough to fix California’s recent prolonged drought, he said, and the state will need more moisture and rainfall as winter approaches.
“But god,” said Mr. Novak, “we need a break.”
