After months of extremely dry conditions in Southern California, an atmospheric river storm delivered much-needed rain to a region plagued by wildfires in January.

California remains in the grip of an unrelenting atmospheric river delivering record-breaking rainfall, heavy mountain snow and destructive winds. Since the weekend, the storm has triggered widespread flooding,

A Pineapple Express forms when the jet stream dips south into the tropical Pacific near Hawaii, scooping up warm, moist air and carrying it northeast across the ocean. Named for Hawaii's famous fruit and the storm's origins near the islands, these powerful systems can dump the equivalent of 10 to 15 inches of rain over two to three days.

A series of atmospheric river storms caused flooding and landslides in Northern California, prompting evacuations and rescue operations.