Fri Nov 22 09:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Bomb Cyclone and Arctic Blast Pummel US and Europe
**Seattle, WA/London, UK –** Severe weather has battered both sides of the Atlantic this week, with a powerful bomb cyclone impacting the US Pacific Northwest and an Arctic blast sweeping across Europe.
The bomb cyclone, which formed off the US northwest coast, rapidly intensified, reaching a central pressure of 942 hectopascals – near record lows for the region. Wind speeds surged to over 70 mph near Seattle, with gusts exceeding 100 mph reported in Canada. The storm claimed two lives and left nearly 500,000 people without power. The system’s lingering effects are bringing torrential rain and flooding to Northern California, with some areas expected to receive over 200mm of rainfall, while the Sierra Nevada mountains are experiencing heavy snowfall, exceeding 500mm in some locations.
Meanwhile, a dramatic shift in weather patterns has brought an Arctic blast to Europe, ending weeks of dry conditions. The Alps received their first significant snowfall of the winter, with particularly heavy falls on Tuesday and Thursday, a welcome sight for ski resorts preparing for the season. The French resorts of Tignes and Val Thorens, set to open this weekend, are anticipating over a meter of snow in some higher elevations. Storm Caetano, responsible for much of Thursday’s wintry weather, brought snow, rain, and strong winds across France, with even Paris experiencing its first snowfall of the season. While early, this snowfall is not unprecedented.
First Piper 