JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The coastal region of California is reeling from a week of record-breaking rainfall, resulting in widespread flooding and landslides.
Southern California, in particular, has borne the brunt of this weather onslaught, experiencing nearly 500 mudslides and leaving over 150,000 residents without power in the Los Angeles area. Termed an "ARKstorm," this meteorological event is something that is rather rare.
What is an ARKstorm?
In Jacksonville, we asked a few residents their thoughts as to what it means with one drawing parallels with the biblical story of Noah's Ark and a "very bad storm." In essence, they were correct. The term "ARKstorm" refers to a heavy rainstorm caused by an atmospheric river, with the 'K' in ARK denoting 1,000. Therefore, an ARKstorm signifies a one-in-one-thousand-year storm.
Understanding Atmospheric Rivers: An atmospheric river is essentially a moisture-laden airflow capable of causing persistent and heavy rainfall. On the West Coast, this phenomenon is often colloquially known as the "Pineapple Express." Similar occurrences can be witnessed in Florida when persistent moisture is pumped out of the Gulf of Mexico. These rivers of moisture can line up and lead to prolonged and intense precipitation events.
The ARkStorm Scenario: The term "ARKstorm" is derived from the concept of an "atmospheric river (AR) 1,000 (k) storm," representing a megastorm scenario initially projected as a one-in-a-thousand-year event by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
This projection is based on historical events documented in geological and historical records, addressing massive storms on the U.S. West Coast analogous to those that devastated California in 1861-62. The USGS further warns that such events may become more frequent and intense due to the impacts of climate change.
The recent ARKstorm in California serves as a stark reminder of the devastating power of atmospheric rivers and the potential consequences of climate change. As extreme weather events become more prevalent, understanding terms like "ARKstorm" becomes crucial. The term encapsulates the severity of a meteorological phenomenon that, while historically rare, may become increasingly frequent in a changing climate.