A powerful bomb cyclone is currently drenching northern California and the Pacific Northwest with heavy rain and strong winds. Tragically, it has already contributed to two fatalities and could lead to extensive flooding, rock slides, and additional power outages, according to the National Weather Service’s cautionary statement on Thursday.

More adverse weather conditions are expected soon.

The ongoing storm is predicted to persist through the weekend, potentially bringing another 6-12 inches of rain, as noted by the weather agency. This atmospheric river has triggered a high-risk alert for excessive rainfall along the coast of northern California.

As of early Thursday, over 300,000 residences and businesses in Washington state were without power. Gusts of wind reached up to 85 mph in Oregon, and parts of northern California received over a foot of rain, reported AccuWeather.

Senior meteorologist Dave Houk from AccuWeather mentioned that regions already saturated with several inches of rain could expect more to come.

“The area will experience heavy rain for several hours, particularly impacting Northern California, but it should start to ease by Friday,” Houk explained to YSL News.

According to Houk, a new storm system is expected to develop off the coast of Oregon and Washington on Friday, adding to the already challenging weather conditions. However, it is anticipated to be less intense than the previous storm, which caused wind gusts above 70 mph, knocking down trees and power lines. Coastal areas might still experience wind speeds exceeding 50 mph, while Seattle should remain relatively safe with winds of 25-30 mph.

Yet, he warns that further power disruptions and damages are still possible.

“The coming storm isn’t expected to be as fierce and should not escalate as rapidly,” Houk stated. “We can only hope it won’t echo the events of the last few days.”

Updates:

∎ Nearly 350 flights in and out of San Francisco International Airport were already either canceled or delayed early Thursday. Just this past Tuesday, the airport experienced over 500 cancellations and delays.

∎ An additional 15 inches of snow is possible in the Washington Cascades, which recently received more than a foot of snow. The storm might also bring several inches to the mountain ranges in western Montana, Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming by early Sunday, according to Snell.

Storm Turns Home Into ‘Fixer-Upper’

Nancy Dienes winced as a tall Douglas Fir tree collapsed onto the roof of the home she and her wife, Tracy Matthews, had painstakingly remodeled over the past few years, much of it completed by themselves.

“When we purchased it, it was a fixer-upper,” Dienes told KOMO-TV. “And now it feels like it’s a fixer-upper again. We’ve already decided we’ll rebuild.”

Confirmed Fatalities in Washington

A woman lost her life on Tuesday when a tree crashed down onto a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, north of Seattle, as reported by local officials. Another woman died near Seattle when a tree fell on her house, according to Bellevue city authorities. Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries when a tree fell on their trailer in Maple Valley, located southeast of Seattle.

“Trees are falling all across the city and landing on homes,” the Bellevue, Washington, Fire Department stated on social media amidst the storm’s fury. “If possible, take shelter on the lowest floor away from windows. Remain indoors if you can avoid going outside. Emergency responders are diligently responding to weather-related incidents, prioritizing safety first.”

Understanding Bomb Cyclones

A bomb cyclone is a powerful coastal storm that occurs during the cold season and is informally referred to as a winter hurricane due to its intense nature. These storms experience a rapid decrease in atmospheric pressure, a process known as bombogenesis, which signifies the storm’s intensification, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bombogenesis occurs when the central barometric pressure of a storm drops by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. A millibar is a unit used to measure pressure; the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

Some of the most severe winter storms that have impacted the coasts of the U.S. have been bomb cyclones.

The term “bombogenesis” merges “cyclogenesis,” which refers to the process of cyclone formation, with “bomb,” highlighting its explosive nature.

“This phenomenon can occur when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass, such as warm air above ocean waters,” NOAA explained. “The rapid strengthening of these weather systems is driven by bombogenesis, creating What is referred to as a bomb cyclone? ”

What is an atmospheric river?

Often termed “rivers in the sky,” atmospheric rivers play a significant role in causing heavy rain and snowfall in the Western regions. They operate similarly to surface rivers but can transport much more water than the Mississippi River.