National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warned more than 3 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area to stay away from their windows on Tuesday afternoon as an atmospheric river ushered in fierce, damaging winds .

"Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows," a high wind warning for the area said.

The winds will be strong enough to blow around unsecured objects, which could cause hazards, NWS lead meteorologist Matt Mehle told Newsweek .

Why It Matters

Atmospheric rivers are a "long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The storms brought by atmospheric rivers are known for their h

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