A powerful bomb cyclone is taking aim at the west coast. A “bomb cyclone” happens when a storm system’s central pressure drops at least 24 millibars within 24 hours.
This storm will bring an atmospheric river to California, Oregon and Washington. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected with feet of snow likely in parts of the mountains.
According to the National Weather Service Seattle, the lowest pressure recorded off Washington was 942 mb on October 24, 2021. This storm will challenge that. As of Tuesday evening, the pressure off the coast of the Pacific Northwest is 944 mb. That is a pressure comparable to a category 3 or 4 hurricane!
A few things to keep in mind.
1) Winds will increase through the evening hours.
2) Strongest winds in this scenario are expected along the coast, near the Cascades, the N. Interior, and near the strait.
3) East/southeast winds can be highly localized and terrain driven.#wawx pic.twitter.com/i1yqhmN2Ld— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 19, 2024
