While atmospheric rivers have been identified and studied since the early 1990s, studies are showing they are increasing in both intensity and frequency as the climate continues to change, according to the Office of Chehalis Basin.
They are responsible for 98% of flood damage losses in the Chehalis River Basin by creating flooding events, according to the Office of Chehalis Basin, which is why the office is hosting a free, educational webinar on atmospheric rivers on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
This webinar will focus on educating basin residents and preparing them for flooding by using the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority’s flood warning system, which can be found online at https://chehalis.onerain.com/.
Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors of heavily concentrated atmospheric moisture. On average, they account for 30% to 50% of annual precipitation on the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Beginning at 6 p.m., the webinar will be held on Zoom. To register and receive a Zoom invite link, visit https://bit.ly/3rZ09L9.
A live, Spanish interpretation of the webinar will also be available.
This webinar is part of an ongoing series hosted by the Office of Chehalis Basin that has covered other topics, including Skookumchuck Dam study findings, the Office’s Aquatic Species Restoration Plan, the flood alert system and flood assistance resources for residents.
To watch previous webinars, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRi7tKh3CmAHwxUOreYO6Q.
For more information about the Office of Chehalis Basin, visit https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Who-we-are/Our-Programs/Office-of-Chehalis-Basin.