A powerful storm system, initially marked by hurricane-force winds, caused severe damage along the West Coast, including a deadly bomb cyclone and massive power outages. The storm, which devastated the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, is now merging with an atmospheric river, heightening the threat of dangerous flooding across the region.
The storm’s winds, peaking at 77 mph, led to over 290,000 power outages in Washington alone, with some areas facing delays in power restoration due to blocked roads and mudslides. Tragically, at least two fatalities have been reported, and numerous trees fell, causing significant property damage.
This bomb cyclone, the most intense in the area in a decade, created waves as high as 34 feet in the Pacific. As the storm’s winds ease, the threat shifts to extreme rainfall, with parts of Northern California expected to receive up to 16 inches of rain in 48 hours, causing life-threatening flooding and potential debris flows.
Meteorologists warn that the atmospheric river will continue to cause hazardous conditions, with snow accumulation in higher elevations and the possibility of another bomb cyclone forming later in the week, which could bring further rainfall and winds to the already battered region.
ARY NEWS, GEO NEWS, DAWN NEWS, JANG NEWS, BBC NEWS, CNN
