California storms wreak havoc: How an elongated jet stream is driving the deadly weather

California’s deadly storms have devastated the state in recent weeks, claiming at least 17 lives and leaving tens of millions under a flood watch.

Since Christmas, parts of the state have received up to three feet of rain and more than 10 feet of snow.

Over the last month, the Sierra Nevada mountains have reached the average amount of snow they receive in a year. This is the most snow the area has seen in such a short period of time since the winter of 1982-83.

So, what is causing this historic precipitation?

Elongated jet stream

Blame an extremely elongated jet stream over the Pacific Ocean, stretching from southeast Asia around Thailand and reaching all the way to California.

A jet stream is a column of air blowing at 100 to 250 mph in the upper atmosphere, 4…