Rivers in the sky are raining down on the Pacific Northwest. What are they?

Atmospheric rivers, massive bands of water vapor, are currently flooding Washington and Oregon with trillions of gallons of water, exacerbating coastal issues with high tides and strong winds. These phenomena are critical to understand as they can lead to significant flooding and impact infrastructure. Their occurrence highlights the intense weather patterns affecting the Pacific Northwest, underscoring the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.