Bomb Cyclone Pummels Pacific Northwest and Northern California

A powerful bomb cyclone has struck Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, resulting in two fatalities and widespread damage. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about potential flooding, rockslides, and power outages as adverse weather conditions continue to batter the region.

The initial storm is expected to persist through the weekend, with forecasts predicting an additional 6-12 inches of rainfall, particularly impacting the Northern California coast where an atmospheric river has prompted a high-risk warning. Atmospheric rivers are known for being «rivers in the sky,» capable of delivering massive amounts of rainfall in a short period.

Over 260,000 homes and businesses in Washington state and another 18,000 in California were reported to be without power by Thursday afternoon. The destructive winds reached speeds of up to 85 mph in Oregon, while parts of Northern California experienced more than a foot of rain, according to AccuWeather reports.

AccuWeather meteorologist Dave Houk stated that severe rainfall was expected to continue. «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,» Houk explained. Another developing storm system expected to approach the Oregon and Washington coastline on Friday will contribute to the ongoing weather issues.

Although not as severe as the current cyclone, this new system could hamper utility restoration efforts with continued power outages. Houk indicated Seattle could expect relatively mild winds; however, coastal areas may still see gusts over 50 mph.

Disruptions extended to air travel, with more than 550 flights at San Francisco International Airport either delayed or canceled by Thursday afternoon. Additionally, severe snowfall was anticipated, with up to 15 inches expected in the Washington Cascades, which had already seen significant snowfall.

Northern California was grappling with numerous road closures and hazardous driving conditions. Interstate travel was affected as vehicles north of Redding were assessed for snow chains. The small city of Redding itself received nearly 5 inches of rain midweek, while an avalanche warning was issued for parts of Siskiyou County.

In the coastal city of Eureka, authorities warned that the Eel River was on track to surpass major flood stages, posing a further threat to local residents.

In the Bay Area, adverse weather was evident with a traffic incident involving a jackknifed big rig on the Bay Bridge, creating massive traffic backlogs. By early Thursday, areas like Santa Rosa in Sonoma County had already received significant rainfall, leading to numerous reports of flooded roads.

Tragedy struck in Lynnwood, north of Seattle, where a woman was killed by falling trees at a homeless encampment. Another fatality occurred when a tree fell on a home near Seattle, as confirmed by local officials in Bellevue.

Emergency responders are working tirelessly to restore normalcy and prioritize safety. The Bellevue Fire Department advised residents, «If you can, go to the lowest floor and stay away from windows. Do not go outside if you can avoid it.»