Atmospheric rivers can be beneficial — but also destructive. Here's what to know about the weather phenomenon on the West Coast and beyond.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

A stronger atmospheric river is set to hit Northern California on Monday and then hit L.A. County on Tuesday, aiding hopes of helping end a devastating fire season.

L.A.’s first atmospheric river storm of winter is coming. What you need to know Mud and debris from fire-ravaged hillsides covered a road in several locations in Topanga Canyon on Monday.

Then an atmospheric river could arrive when they least expect it —anytime, not just during the rainy season — and produce extreme weather for days or weeks on end.

An atmospheric river is a plume of moisture that helps carry saturated air from the tropics to higher latitudes, delivering unrelenting rain or snow.

An unusually potent storm will bring significant precipitation to the East Coast throughout Wednesday and into the night.

An atmospheric river taking aim at the Midwest and parts of the South could exceed the 500- to 1,000-year average for rainfall in the area, meteorologists warned.

The Northwest is bracing for a strong storm system fueled by an atmospheric river and bomb cyclone. What do those terms mean?

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.