In a dramatic turn of weather events, a powerful storm system known as a “bomb cyclone” has struck the northwest United States, arriving on Tuesday evening. Touted as one of the strongest storms in decades, it has unleashed high winds and soaking rains, leading to power outages and numerous downed trees across the region.
The Weather Prediction Center has issued warnings of excessive rainfall as the most significant atmospheric river of the season impacts California and the Pacific Northwest. An atmospheric river is a concentrated band of moisture in the atmosphere that can produce heavy precipitation when it makes landfall.
The “bomb cyclone” designation refers to a storm that intensifies rapidly, with its central pressure dropping dramatically in a short period. This rapid intensification results in severe weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Areas expected to experience particularly severe rainfall extend from south of Portland, Oregon, to just north of the San Francisco area. Residents in these regions are advised to prepare for potential flooding and other storm-related hazards as the system moves through.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
