This morning, a potent low off Southern California is directing an "atmospheric river" of tropical moisture across the Desert Southwest, increasing the risk of flash flooding in cities and canyons. In concert, a cold front is arriving from the northwest, pulling heavy rain northeastward into Southwest Colorado and, later today, igniting thunderstorms across New Mexico and West Texas.
As the flow of moisture curls back to the northwest, augmented by inflow from the Gulf of Mexico, snow is expected to fall across the Colorado mountains, a much needed development following last year's limited snowpack. Hopefully, this storm system is a harbinger of a snowy winter to come.
Indeed, the effects of our warming climate are not yet clear but alternating periods of drought and heavy precipitation seem to be developing, the products of a fickle yet energized jet stream and steadily warming seas. Adjusting to such fluctuations will challenge all forms of life (humans included) across the globe.
