River Ruckus

What Are Atmospheric Rivers? Pacific Northwest Storms Bring Trillions of Gallons of Rain

Published November 13, 2026

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A sky-high river of water vapor gets a gross cartoon makeover as it lashes the Pacific Northwest with rain. The card riffs on atmospheric rivers dumping trillions of gallons over Washington and Oregon while wind and high tides batter the coast.

The Real Story

Atmospheric rivers are long bands of concentrated water vapor moving through the atmosphere. The systems are bringing trillions of gallons of water to Washington and Oregon, producing heavy rain across the Pacific Northwest. Coastal areas are also facing high tides and strong winds that batter shorelines. The story explains what atmospheric rivers are and describes the hazards accompanying this event.

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