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Pineapple express a flood threat to California, Southwest
The Weather Channel • • nation
Key Points:
- An atmospheric river known as the "pineapple express" is bringing heavy rain to the Desert Southwest and Southern California over Halloween weekend, following recent destructive flooding in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
- Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of Sedona, Arizona, and Archuleta County, Colorado, as the San Juan River is expected to reach historic crest levels tonight.
- The heaviest rainfall is forecast for Flagstaff, Arizona; Zion National Park, Utah; and areas of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, with increased flash flood risks due to already saturated ground from previous storms.
- Additional hazards include potential debris flows in wildfire-scorched areas, life-threatening flash floods in canyonlands, and wintry conditions with snow over higher elevations causing slippery travel.
- The atmospheric river is fueled by a jet stream plunge near the West Coast, bringing moisture from near Hawaii, with total atmospheric moisture 2 to 3 times above average for late October, possibly setting record levels for Halloween weekend.
