As extreme weather events have hit the world hard in recent years, one meteorology term — atmospheric rivers — has made the leap from scientific circles to common language, particularly in places that have been hit by them. That stands to reason. The heavy rain and wind events most known for dousing California and other parts of the West have been getting bigger, wetter and more frequent in the past 45 years as the world warms, according to a comprehensive study of atmospheric rivers in the current issue of the Journal of Climate.

Other atmospheric river and snowpack news across the West:

• The Guardian: Atmospheric river to wallop California as study finds storms getting worse
• Los Angeles Times: Rain set to hit Southern California amid flood warnings
• The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.): Stormy weather is back in the Bay Area. Here is what to expect
• FOX5/KUSI (San Diego): Rainfall totals across San Diego County as atmospheric river approaches
• CBS Sacramento: Northern California winter storm brings boost to snowpack, gusty winds
• SFist: Study: Atmospheric rivers getting stronger, more frequent
• KGET (Bakersfield, Calif.): Weather Wednesday: The science of an ‘atmospheric river’
• Progressive Farmer: Blog: Winter was poor for snow moisture in Southwestern US
• Nevada Current: Nevada snowpack improves, but deficits persist
• The Gazette (Denver, Colo.): Snowpack lags across southern Colorado, strong for Denver and Colorado Springs
• Vail Daily (Colo.): Opinion: Eagle River Coalition: From snow to flow