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. 2019 Dec 4;5(12):eaax4631. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4631

Table 1. Most damaging atmospheric rivers 1978–2017.

Start date Initial landfall
region
Initial landfall
latitude
AR category Peak IVT
(kg m−1 s−1)
Claims Insured losses
($m)
Total damages
($b)
4 January 1995 S. CA 32.5°N 4 966 4725 125.8 3.7
29 December
2005
N. CA 40°N 4 825 2554 117.6 3.5
29 December 1996 Central CA 35°N 5 1260 3407 104.6 3.1
5 February 1996 N. OR 45°N 3 729 2695 99.3 3.0
2 December 2007 N. OR 45°N 5 1258 1447 83.9 2.5
15 February 1986 WA 47.5°N 4 870 2048 66.6 2.0
7 March 1995 S. OR 42.5°N 4 928 2343 58.7 1.8
5 January 2009 S. OR 42.5°N 4 831 1636 53.9 1.6
1 February 1998 Bay Area 37.5°N 4 795 2417 46.8 1.4
1 November 2006 N. CA 40°N 5 1041 1184 38.7 1.2
25 January 1983 Bay Area 37.5°N 5 1013 1545 34.9 1.0
25 February 1983 Bay Area 37.5°N 3 658 1832 30.0 0.9
12 February 1980 Baja CA 30°N 3 721 2059 28.5 0.9
3 January 1982 N. CA 40°N 3 525 1422 28.1 0.8
11 February 1986 N. CA 40°N 4 904 848 23.9 0.7
21 November
1990
WA 47.5°N 4 943 939 23.3 0.7