Photos: See how the atmospheric river is battering California
Forecasters now say 8 to 15 inches of rain could fall in the mountains and foothills of Southern California.
atmospheric river
Atmospheric river expected to bring life-threatening floods to Southern California
The National Weather Service warns the storm could drop unprecedented rain over a wide area from Saturday night through early next week, with the period of most concern from Sunday into early Monday.
More rain and snow bound for California as back-to-back atmospheric rivers approach
Forecasters say the result could be massive flooding and a potential for avalanches across stretches of the state.
What is an atmospheric river, responsible for the heavy rainfall on the West Coast?
An atmospheric river is a relatively narrow channel of wind, hence the "river," that transports water vapor from the tropics to the West Coast, where it's producing rain and heavy winds.