New Zealand Local Weather Forum

Weather Discussion => International => Topic started by: Mark on September 24, 2024, 07:13:49 PM

Title: The Strongest Atmospheric River on Record for the Gulf of Alaska?
Post by: Mark on September 24, 2024, 07:13:49 PM
Cliff Mass
The atmospheric river currently over the Gulf of Alaska may be the strongest on record in that area.
The latest model runs show extreme values of the key measure of atmospheric river strength, vertically integrated moisture transport (IVT), which describes how much water vapor is being moved over a period of time.
Below is the map  of IVT for this morning, with values exceeding 1900.  I have personally never seen anything like it.
An estimate of the strongest atmospheric river  over observed for 1990-2019 by Dr.  Lexi Henny of NASA/Goddard suggested this is the strongest atmospheric river during that period of record.  Impressive.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/09/23/the-strongest-atmospheric-river-on-record-for-the-gulf-of-alaska/