Beginning the evening of November 19, a massive winter storm of record-breaking intensity struck Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, causing extremely high winds, heavy rains, and widespread disturbances. It has been labeled a “bomb cyclone,” and its powerful winds left many areas with power outages, flooding, and downed trees in several states.

A Storm Decades in the Making

Meteorologists have classified this system as one of the most intense storms affecting the northwestern region of the United States in recent history. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) indicated specific periods of “excessive rainfall risks” from Tuesday, November 19 to Friday, November 22, which will be associated with atmospheric rivers.

“This is going to be an impactful event,” said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the WPC. He urged residents at lower elevations to prepare for flash flooding and residents in mountainous areas to anticipate hazardous winter storms.

The worst consequences are predicted for a stretch of terrain extending from southern Portland, Oregon, all the way to the north of San Francisco. Bann also pointed out that 8 inches of precipitation are expected in the Bay Area and North Coast regions of California, while some regions in Oregon may receive approximately 10 inches of precipitation.

Flood Threats and Hurricane-Force Winds 

The storm caused winds of more than 75 mph in the coastal areas of Oregon creating perilous conditions. “We’ve only seen a couple of storms this strong in the last 10 or 20 years,” said Larry O’Neill, director of the Oregon Climate Service.

In the state of Washington, as of the evening of November 19, over 106,000 customers experienced a power outage according to poweroutage.us. The states of Oregon and California reported similar power outages, recording 11,000 and 12,000 customers affected in that order.

As was indicated by the National Weather Service (NWS), conditions were anticipated to deteriorate in western Washington over the course of the night. In the same state at Crystal Mountain close to Mount Rainier, there was a peak wind speed of approximately 68 mph. In Ediz Hook, which is a sand spit protruding into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the wind was gusting up to 53 mph.

Preparing for the Worst in Northern California

In Northern California, preparations were in full swing as authorities braced for heavy rainfall and high winds. Yolo County officials cleared drainage systems to prevent urban flooding, a repeat of last February’s inundation that saw 10 inches of water fill some garages.

“We had about ten inches of water in our garage, had a couple gophers swimming around,” resident Mesena Pimentel told KCRA-TV. To support residents, Woodland city officials distributed free sandbags while urging communities to stockpile food and charge electronics in anticipation of potential outages.

The Sierra Nevada, meanwhile, faced a winter storm with up to 15 inches of snow expected above elevations of 3,500 feet. Wind gusts in the mountains could reach 75 mph, making travel dangerous.

Oregon and Washington Feel the Brunt

Southwestern Oregon was hit hard, with rainfall ranging from 4 to 7 inches predicted, and localized totals reaching 10 inches. The NWS issued flood watches throughout the region, warning of significant risks to low-lying areas.

While Washington faced slightly less rainfall than its southern neighbors, the state still experienced severe weather impacts. The Cascades saw a blizzard warning with up to a foot of snow and wind gusts of 60 mph.

There were numerous travel interruptions including fallen trees on Issaquah’s Interstate 90 lanes and disrupted ferry service connecting Port Townsend to Coupeville. The Washington State of Transportation urged motorists to postpone their travel plans, adding jokingly, “It will only be a winter wonderland in the sense that you’ll be wondering where the heck you are.”

A Challenging Recovery Ahead 

With the storm gaining in strength, warning signs of flash flooding, power failures, and treacherous travel conditions continue to be issued by authorities. In the affected areas, workers are making every effort to limit the destruction and turn the electricity back on. The local population has been advised to remain vigilant.