A new storm brewing off the Northwest coast is about to cause even further damage to already-battered areas hard-hit by the bomb cyclone from earlier this week. As the storm strengthens, it’s continuing to fuel an atmospheric river that has already drenched Northern California with nearly 18 inches of rain, raising alarms for more flooding and devastation.
Power Outages and Fatalities as Winds Continue to Roar Through Washington
The new storm will bring gusty winds to Washington, where over 180,000 homes and businesses have remained in the dark now for the third day. The state is still recovering from the aftermath of a bomb cyclone that hit earlier this week, knocking out power to over half a million customers. In addition to the widespread power cuts, the cyclone’s fierce winds had left two people dead. A woman in her 50s in Lynnwood, Wash., died when a tree fell on her, and another person died while taking a shower at their residence in King County.
The destructive winds of the storm not only took down power lines but also ravaged larger transmission lines, according to Puget Sound Energy. The state now prepares for additional wind gusts, with the strongest of around 60 mph near the coast and about 30 mph in the Seattle area. While not as strong as that bomb cyclone, these winds will be especially concerning since already weakened soil conditions will make trees more susceptible to uprooting.
Atmospheric River Brings Flooding to Northern California
In the meantime, the atmospheric river aimed at Northern California is wreaking havoc with intense rainfall. A level 3 risk of flooding is in place for parts of the northern Sierra Nevada and the Coastal Range, according to the Weather Prediction Center, with additional torrential rain possible through Saturday morning.
The region has already experienced almost 18 inches of rain in the past few days, and another 5 to 10 inches are possible. It is further deteriorating an already dire situation, as numerous roads were closed in Sonoma County due to flooding. Authorities advised residents not to travel unless necessary due to worsening weather conditions.
In Santa Rosa, a city approximately 55 miles north of San Francisco, approximately 150 people were stranded inside a medical center and a hotel by floodwaters. The flooding is causing disruptions throughout the region, with the area’s landslides causing vehicle accidents on highways, including one on Highway 281.
If the flooding isn’t enough, the storm is dumping heavy snow in the mountain regions of Northern California. Another 1 to 4 feet of snow is possible by early next week, according to the National Weather Service, complicating travel in the region further. That’s after the same area saw over a foot of snow buried the region earlier this week, and more is expected through Friday.
