As extreme weather events have hit the world hard in recent years, one meteorology term — atmospheric rivers — has made the leap from scientific circles to common language, particularly in places that have been hit by them.

A new study finds that atmospheric rivers — the heavy rain and wind events most known for dousing California and other parts of the West — have been getting bigger, wetter and more frequent in the past 45 years as the world warms.

A powerful atmospheric river storm is pounding parts of California with torrential rain, strong winds and snow and leading to issues from San Francisco to Los Angeles, including areas recently impacted by deadly wildfires.

Another round of soaking rain and heavy mountain snow this morning as another atmospheric river storm pounds California. The Atmospheric River currently looks to weaken as it pushes into central and southern California Sunday-Monday,