Sun Nov 24 06:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Devastating Bomb Cyclone Pummels Pacific Northwest, Followed by Life-Threatening Flooding
**Seattle, WA –** A historic bomb cyclone has left a trail of destruction across the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, claiming at least two lives and plunging hundreds of thousands into darkness. The storm, one of the most intense on record for the region, brought hurricane-force winds gusting up to 77 mph, downing trees, power lines, and causing widespread damage.
The impact was particularly severe in western Washington, where over 290,000 homes and businesses were without power Wednesday afternoon, with some outages expected to last for days. Utility crews are struggling to reach affected areas due to blocked roads and mudslides.
The storm’s fury resulted in tragic consequences. A woman was killed when a tree fell on her King County home, and another woman died when a tree struck a homeless encampment in Lynnwood. Further illustrating the storm’s power, a tree crashed into a home, sounding like a “jet landing,” according to one resident. An Amtrak train also collided with a fallen tree, thankfully without injuries to the 47 passengers onboard.
While the winds have begun to subside, a new threat looms: the bomb cyclone is combining with an atmospheric river to unleash potentially life-threatening flooding rainfall across the West Coast. A level 4 out of 4 high risk of flooding is in place for parts of Northern California on Thursday, with the potential for over 16 inches of rain in 48 hours in some areas. Significant urban flooding, debris flows, and river flooding are anticipated. Heavy snow is also expected in higher elevations. Interstate 5 in Siskiyou County, California, has been closed due to the severe weather.
The National Weather Service warns that the region’s weather threat is far from over. Another, albeit weaker, bomb cyclone could develop off the West Coast by Friday, potentially exacerbating the flooding and bringing another round of damaging winds.
First Piper 