How heat on the Tibetan Plateau fuels powerful storms in California, half a world away

A new study connects early winter heat high up on the plateau to the jet stream and, ultimately, storms headed for the US coast. The results could mean better forecasts.

By: Yongkang Xue, University of California, Los Angeles, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 10, 2026

Words: 880

Last Updated: 1 month ago

Body Text Preview

By Yongkang Xue, University of California, Los Angeles

The Tibetan Plateau may be on the other side of the world from California, but what happens on this high-altitude landscape in Asia can set off a chain of events that fuels powerful atmospheric rivers with flooding rainfall and heavy snow hitting the U.S. West Coast.

My team of atmospheric scientists discovered this connection, and we explain how it works in a new study in the journal …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us