Two people were killed near Seattle and over half a million homes and businesses were left without power due to back-to-back storms that hit the Pacific Northwest. The storms, described as a “bomb cyclone” due to a rapid drop in pressure, brought high winds, rain, and snow, causing fallen trees and downed power lines throughout western Washington. Meanwhile, eastern Washington experienced snow, freezing rain, and blizzard conditions, prompting warnings for residents to travel safely.
One woman was killed when a tree fell at a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, while another person was killed in Bellevue when a tree crashed into their house. The storms caused widespread damage, with falling trees damaging cars and buildings, and even the National Weather Service station in Seattle. More than 700,000 homes and businesses in Washington lost power, with over 300,000 still without power by late Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to the storms in Washington, a separate storm was set to amplify the atmospheric river effect off the Northwest coast, bringing extreme rainfall totals. Northern California has already been affected by storms, with concerns about flash flooding, rock slides, and debris flows. In Canada, strong winds were recorded on Vancouver Island, further highlighting the impact of the storms.
Experts have linked the intensity of these storms to climate change, warning that warmer temperatures can lead to more intense and damaging atmospheric river storms. The storms in the Pacific Northwest have caused significant damage and have prompted safety warnings across the region.
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