"California Braces for Double Dose of Atmospheric River Storms"

Southern California is bracing for two powerful atmospheric river storms, with the first hitting on Thursday and the second expected over the weekend. More than 20 million people are under flood alerts as heavy rainfall threatens flash flooding in cities including San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. The storms are part of a more typical El Niño pattern, which influences weather globally and can direct storms at California. Officials are preparing for potential impacts, with hundreds of crew members ready to respond to potential calls for rescue. Additionally, Northern California is expecting wintery weather conditions, with more snow welcomed for the state's snowpack, which is currently at just 52% of average for this time of year.