Severe Storm Hits Northwest U.S., Causing Casualties and Major Disruption
SEATTLE – A powerful storm lashed the northwest U.S. on Tuesday evening, bringing fierce winds and heavy rainfall that led to widespread power outages and at least one reported death. The Weather Prediction Center has issued warnings for excessive rainfall through Friday, alongside hurricane-force wind alerts as an intense atmospheric river affects California and the Pacific Northwest.
Characterized as a "bomb cyclone," the storm rapidly intensified, unleashing chaos across the region. In Lynnwood, Washington, a woman tragically lost her life when a tree fell on a homeless encampment. In Seattle, a tree also fell on a car, trapping the occupant briefly; however, that person is now reported to be in stable condition.
By early Wednesday, over 600,000 households in Washington were without power, and officials reported fluctuating outage numbers due to internet issues hampering storm response communication. Additionally, around 15,000 people experienced outages in Oregon and nearly 19,000 in California.
Winds peaked at 101 mph near Vancouver Island, with gusts of 79 mph recorded along the Oregon coast and 77 mph at Mount Rainier. The National Weather Service urged residents to stay safe by avoiding exterior rooms and windows and exercising caution on the roads.
Warnings for flash flooding and high winds are in effect for northern California, predicting up to 8 inches of rain in certain regions. Meanwhile, a winter storm watch was issued for the Sierra Nevada, forecasting up to 15 inches of snow at higher elevations. A blizzard warning has also been placed for the Cascades in Washington, suggesting travel could be treacherous.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions, stressing public safety as the storm system evolves.
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