A devastating bomb cyclone has unleashed its fury across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake.
According to USA TODAY, the powerful storm system has already claimed two lives and left more than 260,000 homes and businesses without power in Washington state, with an additional 18,000 outages reported in California.
The region faces continued threats of flooding, rock slides, and debris flows as the storm system persists, with forecasts indicating an additional 6-12 inches of rainfall through the weekend. Wind gusts reached alarming speeds of up to 85 mph in Oregon, while parts of Northern California experienced more than a foot of rain.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk warns residents of Northern California about the ongoing deluge. He explains that while a second storm system is approaching, it may not be as intense as its predecessor.
The storm's impact has severely disrupted air travel, with San Francisco International Airport reporting more than 550 flights canceled or delayed by Thursday afternoon. The situation mirrors Tuesday's disruptions when the airport faced over 500 cancellations and delays.
The Washington Cascades, already blanketed with more than a foot of snow, could receive up to 15 additional inches. The weather system's reach extends to western Montana, Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming mountain ranges, where several inches of snow are expected through early Sunday.
In Seattle and surrounding areas, emergency services are struggling to keep up with weather-related incidents. The Bellevue Fire Department has issued urgent warnings to residents about the dangers of falling trees.
Nancy Dienes and Tracy Matthews, Seattle homeowners, experienced firsthand the storm's destructive power when a Douglas Fir tree crashed onto their recently remodeled home. Their story represents just one of many instances of property damage across the region.
Road closures have become widespread, particularly affecting I-5 north of Redding, where vehicles are being screened for snow chains. The coastal city of Eureka faces major flooding concerns as the Eel River approaches dangerous levels.
A bomb cyclone, technically known as a storm undergoing bombogenesis, occurs when a storm's central barometric pressure drops at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. NOAA meteorologist Dave Houk explained:
It will rain hard for several hours, and that stream of heavy rain will be aimed right at Northern California before it starts easing on Friday
The Bellevue Fire Department issued an urgent advisory to residents:
Trees are coming down all over the city and falling onto homes. If you can, go to the lowest floor and stay away from windows. Do not go outside if you can avoid it. Emergency responders are working hard to respond to weather incidents but are prioritizing life safety first
The bomb cyclone and atmospheric river system battering the Pacific Northwest has resulted in two fatalities in Washington state, with numerous injuries and widespread infrastructure damage reported. A woman lost her life when a tree fell on a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, while another casualty occurred near Seattle under similar circumstances.
The weather system continues to pose significant threats to the region, with forecasters predicting sustained rainfall and strong winds through the weekend. Emergency services remain on high alert, responding to numerous incidents while prioritizing life-saving operations and infrastructure repairs.
