Is China behind California’s 2017 catastrophic rain? New study finds a surprising 'climate teleconnection' linking the Rocky Mountains and Tibetan Plateau

Is China behind California’s 2017 catastrophic rain? Recent studies indicate that unusually warm temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau have a direct correlation with extreme rainfall occurrences in California. This climatic teleconnection plays a crucial role in the formation of atmospheric rivers along the Pacific Coast. By linking distant warming patterns to precipitation in the West, this research aims to enhance future weather forecasts, potentially allowing for earlier warnings about severe weather events.