To many, atmospheric rivers are a West Coast phenomenon. But they’re also responsible for the devastating flooding that hit the Central United States in early April.

Some popular weather apps had reported a dangerously hazardous Air Quality Index.

Forecasters issued some of their rarest and most extreme alerts on Wednesday as they warned a powerful storm system would stall over the central part of the country.

Atmospheric rivers like the ones hitting the state this week sometimes wobble, and these slight movements can be challenging to predict.

The mountain range straddling California and Nevada has had mostly warm storms this winter. Finally, a cold one has piled up multiple feet of snow.

A run of storms is moving through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California over the next week.

Strong winds have created a fast-moving and hot blaze, forecasters said, and the conditions are expected to continue into the evening.

Wildfire risk is high in Southern California, where little rain has fallen recently. The threat will skyrocket this week as offshore winds pick up.

Fierce winds drove an explosive wildfire in Ventura County, triggering evacuations and causing injuries.