‘Bomb cyclone’ to bring damaging weather to US Pacific states

Parts of the northwest are already starting to feel impacts from the storm, with strong wind gusts already observed in the Seattle area.

NOAA’s weather prediction centre said the storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow to mountain ranges in the Pacific Northwest with accumulation rates of 2-3in (5-8cm) per hour and wind up to 65 mph (29mps).

The weather could bring whiteout conditions that will make travel difficult, according to NOAA. There could be 10-20in (25-50cm) of snow in spots.

Wind gusts could bring power outages, downed trees and high surf along the coastline, the US weather agency said, which issued a “high risk excessive rainfall outlook” for northwest California.

The heaviest rainfall – which could bring mud slides – is expected to hit northern California and southwest Oregon, according to the NOAA.

The National Weather Service also issued winter weather alerts and a winter storm warning through Wednesday for several other areas along the Pacific coast.

“Numerous flash floods, hazardous travel, power outages, and tree damage can be expected as the storm reaches max intensity,” the National Weather Prediction Centre wrote in a post on X.