Devastating Bomb Cyclone Hits Northwestern U.S., Causing Power Outages and Fatalities

A significant storm hit the northwestern United States, bringing with it powerful winds and heavy rain, leading to widespread destruction and tragically claiming at least one life. The Weather Prediction Center issued warnings of excessive rainfall through Friday, and hurricane-force wind alerts were activated as the strongest atmospheric river seen this season overwhelmed the region.

The Impact of the Storm

The storm system, which began its onslaught on Tuesday, has been classified as a bomb cyclone due to the rapid intensification of the cyclone. In Washington, fallen trees wreaked havoc, striking homes and blocking roads. A devastating incident occurred in Lynnwood, where a large tree fell on a homeless encampment, resulting in the death of a woman, as confirmed by South County Fire.

In Seattle, a tree fell on a vehicle, temporarily trapping an individual inside, but fortunately, they were later reported to be in stable condition. The fire department in Bellevue, situated approximately 10 miles east of Seattle, issued a warning, urging residents to seek shelter on the lowest floor and avoid windows.

Disruption and Power Outages

By early Wednesday, over 600,000 homes were without power in Washington, as reported by PowerOutage.us. The fluctuating number of outage reports was attributed to the challenges faced by weather and utility agencies in disseminating information due to internet outages and technical issues, making it difficult to verify the accuracy of the figure. In Oregon, power outages affected more than 4,000 residents, while nearly 15,000 were left without electricity in California.

At 8 p.m., the peak wind speed was recorded in Canadian waters, with gusts reaching 101 mph off the coast of Vancouver Island, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. On the Oregon coast, wind gusts were recorded at 79 mph, while a wind speed of 77 mph was noted at Mount Rainier in Washington. The National Weather Service cautioned residents on the West Coast to be mindful of the danger posed by trees during high winds and urged them to avoid exterior rooms and windows.

Heavy Rainfall and Flooding

In Northern California, flood and high wind watches were issued, with predictions of up to 8 inches of rain for parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, North Coast, and Sacramento Valley. Twelve-16 inches of rain were forecasted for far Northern California and far southwestern Oregon through Friday, increasing the risk of dangerous flash flooding, rock slides, and debris flows.

Winter Storm Watch

A winter storm watch was issued for the northern Sierra Nevada above 3,500 feet, where 15 inches of snow were possible over two days, along with wind gusts potentially exceeding 75 mph in mountainous areas. The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch for parts of southwestern Oregon through Friday evening, while rough winds and seas prompted the suspension of a ferry route in northwestern Washington between Port Townsend and Coupeville.

Blizzard Conditions

A blizzard warning was issued for the majority of the Cascades in Washington, including Mount Rainier National Park, with predictions of up to a foot of snow and wind gusts reaching 60 mph. The Weather Prediction Center cautioned that heavy, wet snow would accumulate at rates of two to three inches per hour along the Cascades and far Northern California, accompanied by gusts up to 65 mph, posing a severe risk of whiteout and blizzard conditions, leading to near-impossible travel at pass level.