re: SoCal Atmospheric River

We also have greatly increased the number and scope of quality instruments in service since 1979. Add in the rapid advancement in satellite technology and the picture gets a little clearer.

The majority of these hype pieces fail to mention that fact. Comparing the modern era of storm tracking/forecasting to the historic record is nearly useless. I've said for years that modern records should have a required asterisk when making comparisons like that.

The same issue is magnified when it comes to tornadoes. People try to compare modern stats to the pre-Nexrad days. Dual-pol increased the numbers even more, though not the jump that Nexrad brought.

Add in the population boom and shift into more rural areas of the country, and the numbers get more skewed.