Atmospheric Rivers Boosting, Reservoir Water Levels , in California .<br />'Newsweek' reports that one northern California <br />reservoir gained five feet of water following two <br />atmospheric rivers across much of the Pacific Northwest. .<br />According to the National Oceanic and <br />Atmospheric Administration, an atmospheric river is a , "long, narrow region in the atmosphere—<br />like rivers in the sky—that transport most <br />of the water vapor outside of the tropics.".<br />Last year, over a dozen of these storms slammed into <br />California, largely ending the state's long drought while <br />also posing new problems like floods and mudslides.<br />Lake Shasta in Shasta County has <br />already seen benefits from the latest <br />atmospheric river to cross the region.<br />On January 19, water levels at <br />Lake Shasta were at 1,015 feet. .<br />Just three days later, the lake had <br />risen five feet, reaching 1,020 feet. .<br />According to National Weather Service (NWS) <br />meteorologist Kate Forrest, up to eight-and-a-half<br />inches of rain had fallen since the storm started.<br />The California Department of Water Resources <br />said that Lake Shasta was up to <br />71% capacity following the deluge of rain.<br />The NWS issued a flood watch for <br />Shasta County early on January 22, <br />with more rain forecast to be on the way.<br />According to the NWS, isolated thunderstorms with <br />heavy rains are forecast to hit in the afternoon, <br />followed by a weaker storm system on January 24
