The latest update for the ‘bomb cyclone’ has revealed the locations expected to endure Category 1 hurricane-force winds this week.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a hurricane-force wind warning for areas off the coast of Oregon, Southern Washington and the northern tip of California on Tuesday from 1pm to 10pm PT.
Offshore waters are forecast to see 46- to 73-mph winds with 80 to 95-mph winds and 21- to 26-foot waves.
Towns like Eureka, Medford, Portland and Seattle should expect winds over 60 or 70 mph stronger winds could impact inland areas through the Cascades and its foothills.
‘Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected,’ reads the NWS alert.
‘Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.’
The agency advised residents to remain in the lower level of their homes during the windstorms and avoid debris.
‘Use caution if you must drive. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs.’
While the bomb cyclone is expected today, meteorologists for The Weather Channel predicted ‘There could be another bout of stronger winds arriving by early Friday.’
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a hurricane-force wind warning for areas off the coast of Oregon, Southern Washington and the northern tip of California on Tuesday from 1pm to 10pm PT
NWS has issued a high-wind warning across the coastal Pacific Northwest from 1pm Tuesday to 4am PT Wednesday.
‘The bomb cyclone storm swirling off the coast of the Pacific Northwest is powerful enough to produce Category 1 hurricane-force winds miles offshore on Tuesday afternoon into the evening,’ meteorologists at KOIN 6 reported.
KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern said: ‘We are lucky this explosive storm is well offshore and over open ocean waters.
‘Otherwise, we could have been talking about a major windstorm with damaging impacts here in the valley.’
The term ‘bomb cyclone’ refers to any midlatitude cyclone that has undergone ‘bombogenesis,’ or a rapid increase in strength or magnitude over 24 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Weather Channel meteorologist Jacqui Jeras shared on X: ‘A buoy near the center of our Pacific Bomb Cyclone has been showing a rapid decline in pressure.
‘Looks like Bombogenesis is met in only 12 hrs (24mb drop in 24hrs is criteria).’
Storm intensity is measured by central pressure — the lower the pressure, the stronger – and is considered a ‘bomb’ when the pressure drops rapidly to at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
But Jeras’ statement suggested the storm intensified in half the amount of time.
The term ‘bomb cyclone’ refers to any midlatitude cyclone that has undergone ‘bombogenesis,’ or a rapid increase in strength or magnitude over 24 hours
The NWS Portland reported that winds are expected to be the strongest at the coast and while winds along the 1-5 remain a point of uncertainty, ‘the ‘most likely’ scenario is of gusts 35-45mph.’
Sacramento’s agency issued a ‘Wind Advisory’ for northern and central parts of the valley from 11pm to 4pm PT Wednesday.
‘Winds will gust up to 35 to 45 mph at times, causing difficult driving conditions, loose objects to be blown around, and downed tree branches,’ NWS Sacramento said.
The bomb cyclone’s eye is moving closer to Washington, putting Seattle directly in its path.
‘Strong winds and blizzard conditions remain on track to impact western Washington this afternoon into early tomorrow morning,’ the agency shared.
This bomb cyclone will also pull a Category 5 atmospheric river onto land that will dump up to 20 inches of rain in certain areas.
An atmospheric river is a long and narrow region of the atmosphere that carries warmth and moisture from the tropics toward Earth’s poles. A Category 5 is exceptionally hazardous, bringing intense storm impacts to land.
While the bomb cyclone is expected today, meteorologists for The Weather Channel predicted ‘There could be another bout of stronger winds arriving by early Friday’
The NWS predicted that northern California and Southwest Oregon would see the highest rainfall totals, potentially resulting in flooding, rockslides and mudslides.
As these storm systems move toward the West Coast, Washington, Oregon and California can expect at least six inches of rain, with over 20 inches possible in the mountains.
The stream of moisture funneling into the mountains could also drop feet of snow from the higher elevations of the Cascades southward into the Siskiyou Mountains of Northern California. This may impact travel in some passes.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue said the the ‘mega’ bomb cyclone and ‘climate-fueled’ atmospheric river will dump eight trillion gallons of precipitation on California, five trillion on Oregon, three trillion on Washington and 2.5 trillion on Idaho – totaling almost 20 trillion gallons across these four states.
Areas affected by burn scars, or charred, barren patches of land left behind by wildfire, will be especially prone to flooding.
That is because burned soil can be as water-repellant as pavement, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Mudslides and rockslides are also more likely in areas recently impacted by wildfire, as the loss of trees, vegetation and their roots leave soils unstable and easily erodible.
