A powerful storm pummeled the Pacific Northwest this week, bringing torrential rain, hurricane-force winds, and heavy snow that caused widespread power outages, toppled trees, and claimed at least one life.
Record-Setting Rainfall and Winds
Dubbed a “bomb cyclone,” the storm intensified rapidly, carrying an atmospheric river of moisture that delivered relentless rain and wind to California and the Pacific Northwest. Rainfall totals of 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) were forecast for far northern California and southwest Oregon through Friday, with flash flooding, debris flows, and rockslides expected.
Hurricane-force wind warnings were issued, with peak gusts reaching 101 mph (163 kph) off Vancouver Island and 79 mph (127 kph) along the Oregon coast. In Washington’s Mount Rainier area, winds topped 77 mph (124 kph).
Deadly and Destructive Winds
In Washington, falling trees wreaked havoc, striking homes and vehicles. Tragically, a woman in Lynnwood died when a tree collapsed on a homeless encampment. In Seattle, a tree trapped a person inside their vehicle, though they were later rescued in stable condition.
Residents reported the storm’s ferocity. Wendy Harrington of Issaquah described the sound of a tree hitting her home as “explosive,” adding, “It felt like a bomb going off.”
By early Wednesday, nearly 600,000 households in Washington were without power, alongside thousands more in Oregon and California.
Warnings Across the Region
The National Weather Service urged caution, particularly in areas with high winds and unstable trees. In Bellevue, Washington, officials advised residents to avoid windows and remain indoors, with trees falling across the city.
Flood watches and winter storm warnings spanned from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada, where up to 15 inches (38 cm) of snow was forecast above 3,500 feet. Mountain gusts could exceed 75 mph (120 kph), creating dangerous whiteout conditions.
Travel Disruptions and Hazardous Conditions
The storm forced the closure of ferry routes in northwestern Washington and created hazardous travel across mountain passes. In the Cascades, blizzard warnings forecast up to a foot of snow and gusts reaching 60 mph (97 kph), making travel nearly impossible.
With the storm’s peak intensity expected Thursday, authorities urged residents across the Pacific Northwest to remain vigilant as the region braced for continued flooding, landslides, and power outages.
