A powerful storm swept across the northwest U.S., bringing strong winds and heavy rain that resulted in significant damage and disruptions. The Weather Prediction Center issued warnings for excessive rainfall and hurricane-force winds as the region faced the impact of an intense atmospheric river, described as the strongest of the season for California and the Pacific Northwest.
The storm, classified as a 'bomb cyclone' due to its rapid intensification, led to tragic incidents including the death of a woman in Lynnwood, Washington, when a tree fell on a homeless encampment. In Seattle, another tree fell on a vehicle, trapping a person inside temporarily.
Reports indicated that over 600,000 households in Washington State were without power, with additional outages in Oregon and California. Wind speeds reached up to 101 mph off the coast of Vancouver Island and 79 mph along the Oregon coast. The National Weather Service issued warnings about the dangers of high winds, advising people to stay indoors and use caution while driving.
In northern California, flood and high wind watches were in effect, with predictions of up to 8 inches of rain in certain areas. A winter storm watch was issued for the northern Sierra Nevada, with significant snowfall and strong winds expected. Parts of southwestern Oregon were under a flood watch, and rough winds disrupted ferry routes in northwestern Washington.
Blizzard warnings were issued for the Cascades in Washington, including Mount Rainier National Park, with forecasts of heavy snowfall and gusty winds. Travel across mountain passes was expected to be challenging. The National Weather Service urged residents to stay safe and be cautious during the severe weather conditions.
