An atmospheric river arrives later today, and will be bringing beneficial rain, isolated thunderstorm chances (specifically on Saturday afternoon/evening), gusty winds, & cooler temperatures through the weekend and into Monday. Check the forecast at weather.gov/sto. | US National Weather Service Sacramento California

National Weather Service on Instagram: "If you live in the West, you’re likely to see the words “atmospheric river” pop up in the forecast over the next several days. This is not a new term; in fact it was coined in 1994! But what is an atmospheric river, and what weather hazards can you expect? Meteorologist Haley Thiem explains."