Explosive bomb cyclone blasts Northwest with deadly winds, flooding from Washington to California

Explosive bomb cyclone blasts Northwest with deadly winds, flooding from Washington to California

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A major atmospheric river has made landfall along the northern California coast and will rage on for days. From Washington to California, the impacts of this atmospheric river and bomb cyclone off the coast are widespread.

A powerful atmospheric river is slamming into Northern California and is expected to persist for days. Its effects, coupled with a bomb cyclone offshore, are being felt across the Pacific Northwest.

The storm first began to slam the Seattle area Tuesday night, killing at least one person and injuring two others as 50-75 mph winds toppled trees across the region.

DEADLY BOMB CYCLONE SLAMS SEATTLE AREA WITH FIERCE WINDS LEAVING OVER 700,000 WITHOUT POWER

A major atmospheric river has made landfall along the northern California coast and will rage on for days.

A major atmospheric river has made landfall along the northern California coast.

(NOAA)

The worst is yet to come for Northern California in the bullseye of this atmospheric river, the FOX Forecast Center said. 

A three-hour radar loop showing where showers and thunderstorms are ongoing. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are indicated in yellow. Tornado Warnings are indicated in red, while Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado are indicated in purple. Flash Flood Warnings are indicated in green, while Flash Flood Emergencies are indicated in pink.
(FOX Weather)

 

Through Saturday, some areas could see 3-5 inches of rain daily, with even higher amounts possible in the mountains. This has prompted the Weather Prediction Center to issue a rare “extreme” flash flood risk area for northern California for Thursday.

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A look at the flash flood threat in the West through Friday.
(FOX Weather)

 

The system is now bringing steady, moderate rain that will continue for several days, leading to potential flooding on roads, small streams and even larger rivers later in the week. 

A look at the rain still to come in the West.
(FOX Weather)

 

The FOX Forecast Center said two storms are powering the event, the first of which is a powerful bomb cyclone. The strength of the low has kicked up strong winds up and down the coast, which have caused power outages and some damage.

A powerful bomb cyclone will slam Washington, including Seattle, through parts of California.

Measurements showed the storm dropped 66 millibars in pressure in 24 hours, eventually becoming a storm with a central pressure of 943 millibars – on par with a major Category 4 hurricane.  It easily qualified for the title of “bomb cyclone”, given when a storm strengthens about 24 millibars in 24 hours.

A High Wind Warning was issued for the Seattle and Everett areas on Tuesday night. This is the first such warning for the region since December 2022.

“The sound out here is unreal,” resident Anthony Concannon said. “The wind in the trees and power lines is deafening.”

  • Tree falls into home in Issaquah, WA

    A tree falls onto a home in Issaquah, Washington, on Tuesday. (Eastside Fire & Rescue)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    A tree falls onto a home in Snohomish, Washington, on Tuesday. (Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Two people were injured when a tree fell onto a trailer in Maple Valley, Washington, on Tuesday. (Puget Sound Fire)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Two people were injured when a tree fell onto a trailer in Maple Valley, Washington, on Tuesday. (Puget Sound Fire)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Two people were injured when a tree fell onto a trailer in Maple Valley, Washington, on Tuesday. (Puget Sound Fire)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Wind damage seen in Mukilteo, Washington, on Tuesday.  (Mukilteo Fire Department)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Wind damage seen in Mukilteo, Washington, on Tuesday. (Mukilteo Fire Department)

  • Seattle Area Windstorm

    Wind damage seen in North Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday. (Snohomish PUD)

  • Tree falls into home in Issaquah, WA

    A tree falls onto a home in Issaquah, Washington, on Tuesday. (Eastside Fire & Rescue)

  • Tree falls into home in Issaquah, WA

    A tree falls onto a home in Issaquah, Washington, on Tuesday. (Eastside Fire & Rescue)

  • Tree falls into home in Issaquah, WA

    A tree falls onto a home in Issaquah, Washington, on Tuesday. (Eastside Fire & Rescue)

An estimated more than 700,000 people had lost power across Western Washington as of early Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.US.  Over 100,000 of them were in the city of Seattle.

The winds were expected to abate by early Wednesday morning, allowing an extensive cleanup effort to begin. 

A look at the top wind gusts in the Northwest.
(FOX Weather)

 

In the Cascades, the winds have combined with heavy snow to produce life-threatening blizzard conditions. Travel over the passes is impossible on Wednesday morning, which will slow down those commuting in the region. 

WHAT IS A BLIZZARD?

Winter weather alerts have been posted across the Northwest through Wednesday.
(FOX Weather)

 

Like most atmospheric rivers, this one will dump feet of snow in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, the FOX Forecast Cenetr said. However, the warmer Pacific air being pulled in by strong winds will raise snow levels higher than usual. 

Snow will likely begin around 3,500 feet, with the heaviest amounts above 4,000 feet, blanketing mountain ranges with several feet of snow.