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

Atmospheric rivers are large bands of water vapor in the sky. They are dumping trillions of gallons of water on Washington and Oregon, just as high tides and winds batter shorelines.

Local conditions may affect travel, public safety, or daily routines. Stay informed and adjust plans if conditions change.

This report is based on information from NPR National, monitored by Alert USA's verified emergency feed.

Residents should be prepared for possible effects on travel, public safety, and daily routines while the situation remains active.

Recommended steps: stay informed via official sources; avoid non-essential travel in the area; secure outdoor items if weather is involved; check on family and neighbors.

Alert USA is tracking this developing situation and will update this report as verified information becomes available.

Verified by Alert USA • NPR NATIONAL