Major Storm Sweeps Across Northwestern US
A powerful storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to the northwestern United States, causing widespread power outages, closing schools, and downing trees that killed at least two people.
Storm System
The storm system that hit starting Tuesday is considered a "bomb cyclone," which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect as the strongest atmospheric river – a large plume of moisture – that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season overwhelmed the region.
California and Oregon
In California, the weather service extended a flood watch into Saturday for areas north of San Francisco. Up to 16 inches of rain was forecast in northern California and southwestern Oregon through Friday. Dangerous flash flooding, rock slides, and debris flows were possible, officials warned.
Northern Sierra Nevada
A winter storm watch was in place for the northern Sierra Nevada above 3,500 feet, where 15 inches of snow was possible over two days. Wind gusts could top 75 mph in mountain areas, forecasters said.
Washington State
Heavy, wet snow was expected to continue along the Cascades and in parts of far northern California. Forecasters warned of blizzard and whiteout conditions and near impossible travel at pass level due to accumulation rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour and wind gusts of up to 65 mph.
Power Outages and Travel Disruptions
The number of power outage reports in Washington fluctuated wildly Tuesday evening, but steadily declined to about 460,000 by Wednesday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us. More than a dozen schools were closed in Seattle alone. About 2,800 customers were reported to be without power Wednesday in Oregon, 38,000 in California, and 10,000 around Carson City and Reno, Nevada.
Conclusion
The storm brought significant disruptions to daily life in the northwestern United States, causing power outages, school closures, and travel disruptions. The region is expected to continue feeling the effects of the storm system through Friday, with excessive rainfall risks and hurricane-force wind warnings in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a bomb cyclone?
A: A bomb cyclone is a type of storm system that intensifies rapidly, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
Q: What areas were affected by the storm?
A: The storm affected parts of California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada, as well as the Dakotas and Minnesota.
Q: How many people were killed in the storm?
A: At least two people were killed in the storm, with one person dying when a tree fell on a homeless encampment in Washington state and another person dying when a tree fell on a home in Bellevue, Washington.
Q: How many people were without power?
A: Over 900,000 people were without power at the peak of the outages, with numbers declining as crews worked to restore power.
