A powerful cyclone hit the Northwest coast: winds up to 101 miles per hour
21 november 2024 в 18:13
A strong cyclone dealt a serious blow to the Northwest coast, causing wind gusts of 60 to nearly 80 miles per hour throughout western Washington, with even stronger winds reaching 101 miles per hour right at the coast, the National Weather Service in Seattle reported.
As of today, more than 700,000 homes and businesses in the state are without power. Tragically, there have also been reports of two deaths near Seattle. A woman around 50 years old died when a tree fell on a homeless camp in Lynnwood around 7:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, according to South County firefighters. In a separate incident, a resident of the Bridle Trails area in Bellevue called emergency services to report that a tree had fallen on his house, killing his wife, firefighters confirmed.
Read on to learn more about the bomb cyclone, how it forms, and what the region can expect next.
A bomb cyclone is a term used to describe a type of intense storm that goes through «bombogenesis», - which means a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure, usually by 24 millibars or more within 24 hours. This process leads to a powerful, rapidly developing low-pressure system, often resulting in heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. Bomb cyclones are most commonly seen in winter months and can cause significant disruptions due to their strength, especially along coastlines or in areas prone to winter storms.
The Northwest coast typically experiences an increase in storm activity in late autumn and winter. Moving south, the jet stream brings a series of low-pressure systems that may include bomb cyclones. The region is also vulnerable to atmospheric rivers, narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. When they combine with a bomb cyclone, they can cause heavy rains and significant flood risks, especially in western Washington and Oregon.
An atmospheric river currently affecting California is expected to bring «extreme amounts of rainfall» and will continue through the end of the week, the weather service reports. The northern coast of California and the inland mountain ranges could see 10−15 inches of rain, significantly increasing the risk of life-threatening flash floods, rockslides, and mudslides, the agency warned.
Compounding the situation, a separate storm is forecast to form and rapidly intensify off the Northwest coast on Friday, further enhancing the atmospheric river effect.
«Life-threatening flooding is expected along the entire Northwest coast of California due to a very strong and prolonged atmospheric river», - the Weather Prediction Center warned. «Dangerous flooding, rockslides, and mudslides are likely»
As of today, more than 700,000 homes and businesses in the state are without power. Tragically, there have also been reports of two deaths near Seattle. A woman around 50 years old died when a tree fell on a homeless camp in Lynnwood around 7:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, according to South County firefighters. In a separate incident, a resident of the Bridle Trails area in Bellevue called emergency services to report that a tree had fallen on his house, killing his wife, firefighters confirmed.
Read on to learn more about the bomb cyclone, how it forms, and what the region can expect next.
A bomb cyclone is a term used to describe a type of intense storm that goes through «bombogenesis», - which means a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure, usually by 24 millibars or more within 24 hours. This process leads to a powerful, rapidly developing low-pressure system, often resulting in heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. Bomb cyclones are most commonly seen in winter months and can cause significant disruptions due to their strength, especially along coastlines or in areas prone to winter storms.
The Northwest coast typically experiences an increase in storm activity in late autumn and winter. Moving south, the jet stream brings a series of low-pressure systems that may include bomb cyclones. The region is also vulnerable to atmospheric rivers, narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. When they combine with a bomb cyclone, they can cause heavy rains and significant flood risks, especially in western Washington and Oregon.
An atmospheric river currently affecting California is expected to bring «extreme amounts of rainfall» and will continue through the end of the week, the weather service reports. The northern coast of California and the inland mountain ranges could see 10−15 inches of rain, significantly increasing the risk of life-threatening flash floods, rockslides, and mudslides, the agency warned.
Compounding the situation, a separate storm is forecast to form and rapidly intensify off the Northwest coast on Friday, further enhancing the atmospheric river effect.
«Life-threatening flooding is expected along the entire Northwest coast of California due to a very strong and prolonged atmospheric river», - the Weather Prediction Center warned. «Dangerous flooding, rockslides, and mudslides are likely»
© Smirnova Olga
