California will have snow and maybe even two months of rain in back-to-back atmospheric rivers

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The Office of the National Meteorological Service in San Francisco said that by May 22, the state should receive 150 to 200% of its normal monthly rainfall.

All this thanks to a series of "atmospheric rivers" that will settle over the Pacific Ocean and head to California.

Atmospheric rivers suck water vapor from the ocean, transport it to narrow areas of the atmosphere, and then discharge massive precipitation on land, creating storm surge systems.

Satellite images of water vapor show the atmospheric river crossing the Pacific in California early Thursday morning.

The second of the three "rivers" is set up, but it will begin to bring rain and snow in California from Friday to Saturday. Then a third system, albeit weaker, will pass into the state next Wednesday to help push precipitation above record amounts.

While low altitudes will see rainfall, the Sierra Nevada will see even more snow. Some areas could see up to 30 inches of snow until Friday morning.

The southern part of the mountain range is already subject to a winter weather warning and officials say travel will sometimes be impossible.

The expected strong winds are also not going to improve travel conditions and are likely to cause power outages and tree fall.

These storms are unusual because they normally occur in winter. In fact, the atmospheric rivers are responsible for the drought that has shaken much of California and Arizona.

The first atmospheric river passed through Wednesday and is already dissipating. Previously, he set daily precipitation records across the state.

Venado, California, had 5 inches in a day, making it the wettest day in May in its history. The previous record for the northern California city was 3.28 inches on May 18, 2005.

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