A powerful storm, one of the strongest in decades, hit the northwest United States on Tuesday evening, bringing high winds, heavy rain, and widespread disruptions. The storm, referred to as a “bomb cyclone” due to its rapid intensification, has caused power outages and downed trees across the region.
Severe weather conditions
The Weather Prediction Center issued warnings for excessive rainfall from Tuesday to Friday as an atmospheric river brought large amounts of moisture to the area. The hardest-hit areas are expected to be from south of Portland, Oregon, to the north of San Francisco.
Meteorologists have warned of flash flooding at lower elevations and winter storms at higher elevations.
High winds and possible power outages
The drive-thru area of a Taco Bell restaurant is damaged by a fallen tree in Washington, after a ‘bomb cyclone’ storm brought high winds to the area. (AP photo)
Hurricane-force winds were reported along the Oregon coast, with gusts over 75mph (121km/h). In Seattle, conditions are favourable for large wind gusts, which could cause widespread power outages.
As of Tuesday evening, about 94,000 customers in western Washington were without power. Winds of up to 68mph were recorded at Crystal Mountain, near Mount Rainier. In northern California, flood and high wind watches were in effect, with up to 8 inches of rain expected in parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding regions.
Winter storms and snow accumulation
A winter storm watch was issued for the northern Sierra Nevada, where up to 15 inches of snow is expected, along with wind gusts of up to 75mph in mountain areas. Local authorities in northern California’s Yolo County took steps to prevent flooding by clearing drainage ditches and setting up sandbag distribution sites for residents.
A car sits abandoned as several downed trees block a street after severe weather hit the area, in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo: The Seattle Times via AP)
Heavy rain and flooding
In southwestern Oregon, 4 to 7 inches of rain are expected, with up to 10 inches in some areas, through late Thursday.
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for southwestern Oregon. A high-wind warning was also issued for the Oregon coast, with winds expected to range from 25mph to 40mph, with gusts up to 60mph.
Public safety alerts
Seattle Metro bus has the remnants of a tree removed by Seattle Dept of Transportation in the aftermath of the storm. (Photo: The Seattle Times via AP)
Washington will also experience rainfall, though less severe than in Oregon and California.
From Monday evening to Tuesday, coastal ranges in Washington could receive up to 1.5 inches of rain. A blizzard warning was issued for the Cascades, with up to a foot of snow and wind gusts of up to 60mph expected. Travel could be difficult, and ferry service was temporarily halted due to rough conditions.
Authorities urged motorists to delay travel until Wednesday due to high winds and heavy snow in the mountains. The Washington State Department of Transportation cautioned that conditions could be treacherous.
(With inputs from The Guardian)
🗳️ Click here for the latest news and updates from the US Presidential Elections 2024
