The Pacific Northwest was hit by back-to-back storms, leaving two people dead and over 700,000 homes and businesses without power. The storm system, described as a “bomb cyclone” due to the rapid drop in pressure, brought high winds, rain, and snow to the region. Snow, freezing rain, and blizzard conditions affected eastern Washington, prompting warnings for residents to travel cautiously.
One woman was killed when a tree fell at a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, while another woman died in Bellevue when a tree crashed into her house. Damage included smashed cars, fallen trees, and power outages with winds strong enough to be classified as hurricane-strength in some areas.
Rescue efforts were underway as firefighters in Puget Sound saved two individuals trapped in a trailer by a fallen tree. The storm also affected Northern California, with extreme rainfall and potential life-threatening flash flooding, rock slides, and debris flows expected.
Climate change is believed to be exacerbating the impact of these atmospheric river storms, with warmer temperatures leading to stronger, wetter, and more intense storms. Experts warn that these events are likely to become more common in the future.
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