The U.S. West Coast has been hit with several atmospheric rivers lately. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these atmospheric rivers "are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow." 
Atmospheric Rivers Caused Excessive Amount of Water Damage to BuildingsToo much sustained wind and rain in a short period of time can cause all sorts of water damage to buildings due to unresolved or unknown roofing and building envelope issues. The recent storms on the West Coast have done just that. Excessive amounts of water damage to buildings have been reported and contractors are experiencing large amounts of leak repair calls. They are being inundated with work and foresee this entire year being very busy resolving these issues. As the Earth continues to warm, climate scientists are predicting these storms to occur more frequently, bringing even more destruction.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
We can't stop Mother Nature but we can implement ways to protect our buildings and the assets inside of them. We recommend scheduling a roof inspection or doing one yourself. If you see damage, ponding water, clogged drains, blisters, dried out roofing material, tears, etc... You need to get these areas fixed as soon as possible. National Coatings' AcryShield Roof Management (ARM) System is an excellent waterproofing solution. This system can be applied directly over your aged and or failing roof without a costly or time consuming roof tear-off and replacement. These systems are also fluid applied over virtually any roofing substrate for a custom tailored, seamless, monolithic rooftop. To learn more, download our free AcryShield Roof Management (ARM) Brochure.
