Over 600,000 residents lost power in western Washington state after an enormous bomb cyclone ravaged the Pacific Northwest.
Crews are working Wednesday morning to restore electricity for about 640,000 customers who lost power overnight.
The vicious windstorm killed at least one individual when a tree fell at a homeless encampment.
Reports stated the bomb cyclone produced heavy rainfall and wind gusts over 70 mph.
A look at the bomb cyclone responsible for widespread power outages across the Pacific Northwest this morning. #CAwx #ORwx #WAwx pic.twitter.com/FY6OYOrfhS
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) November 20, 2024
From The Spokesman-Review:
A rotating rapidly intensifying system of storms, known as a bomb cyclone, skirted the West Coast and churned about 300 miles west of the Olympic Peninsula. Its strength was expected to wane Wednesday, though a sequel system could move in Thursday or Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Over 400,000 people of those without power were Puget Sound Energy customers, outside the city of Seattle. Heavy snow, fallen trees and — on Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass — a jackknifed semitruck blocked routes in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Some flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were also rerouted when the storm was near its peak.
After peaking at 1 a.m., winds significantly dropped off by 4 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
All wind warnings and advisories have ended, the weather service said.
Damage from fallen trees and downed wires was reported throughout the region. The easterly winds are in the opposite direction of usual high winds, making it easier to knock down trees, said weather service meteorologist Dana Felton.
WATCH:
This massive tree fell on top of a @KingCountyMetro bus on 35th Ave NE. The bus driver is okay but shaken up. There were no passengers on board. #bombcyclone @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/JgXVIEaNHr
— Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) November 20, 2024
Bomb Cyclone Chaos in Bellevue! 🌪️ Trees crashing onto powerlines—residents left in the dark! More damage expected. 😳
Stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel #SEATTLESUBMISSIONS pic.twitter.com/qbkynnpW4w— SEATTLESUBMISSIONS (@SEATTLESUBMISS) November 20, 2024
Kaboom! #BombCyclone pic.twitter.com/z3mobhVAkM
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) November 20, 2024
Per CNN:
A “once in a decade” bomb cyclone lashed the northwest United States and parts of Canada early Wednesday with hurricane-force wind gusts –– leaving at least one person dead and hundreds of thousands without power across Washington state, California and British Columbia.
In Seattle and neighboring cities, strong winds are tumbling trees, with some falling on houses and placing lives at risk.
In Lynnwood, north of Seattle, a woman in her 50s was killed when a large tree fell on a homeless encampment shortly after 7 p.m. PT, South County Fire Department told CNN.
More than 650,000 customers lost power in the early hours of Wednesday in Washington, while about 140,000 customers were without power in British Columbia, BC Hydro reported on its website. As of midnight PT, over 24,000 customers in California were without power.
The National Weather Service has reported notable wind gusts across the region, including off the coast of British Columbia, where winds were blowing at 101 mph at the South Brooks Buoy.
WATCH:
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