What are atmospheric rivers and how do they affect the West Coast?

Atmospheric rivers are high-altitude plumes of moisture that carry heavy rainfall and can cause significant flooding and damage, particularly impacting the Pacific Northwest.

When will the new research flights over the Atlantic begin?

The new research flights over the Atlantic are scheduled to begin in January, with aircraft from France, Germany, and the US participating.

How will the new atmospheric river data help forecasters?

The data collected will help improve weather models and extend lead time for forecasts of atmospheric rivers from one week to two weeks.

Home / Weather / Atlantic Flights Track 'Sky Rivers' for Early Warnings

Atlantic Flights Track 'Sky Rivers' for Early Warnings

17 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Research flights over the Atlantic will monitor atmospheric rivers.
These "sky rivers" bring heavy rain and flooding to the US West Coast.
New data aims to extend storm forecasts from one to two weeks.

Atlantic Flights Track 'Sky Rivers' for Early Warnings

New research flights over the Atlantic Ocean are set to commence in January, aiming to enhance understanding and forecasting of atmospheric rivers. These "sky rivers" are massive plumes of tropical moisture that can dump significant rainfall and cause devastating floods.

The international effort involves scientists from the United States, Canada, France, and Germany, utilizing specialized aircraft. These planes will fly from Ireland and Canada, equipped with instruments like radar and dropsondes to collect crucial atmospheric data over the North Atlantic.

The collected data will be integrated into computer weather models. This initiative seeks to extend the lead time for forecasting these impactful storms, improving preparedness for communities on both the West Coast of the United States and in Europe.