A study published in Science Advances establishes a connection between heat on the Tibetan Plateau and powerful atmospheric rivers that bring heavy rainfall and snow to California. Researchers found that unusually warm land temperatures on the plateau in early winter can favor stronger atmospheric rivers along the U.S. Pacific Coast.
Climate model experiments confirmed this link, demonstrating that warming over the Tibetan Plateau can disturb the jet stream and create conditions that amplify storms. This finding suggests that monitoring Tibetan Plateau temperatures, alongside ocean conditions, could improve forecasting of extreme West Coast precipitation events.
Source: Down To Earth