Back-to-back storms hit the Pacific Northwest, leaving more than 500,000 homes and businesses without power and causing two fatalities in the Seattle area. The storm, described as a “bomb cyclone,” brought high winds, rain, and snow, resulting in fallen trees and downed power lines across the region. A woman was killed when a tree fell at a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, and another woman died in Bellevue after a tree crashed into her house. The storm also caused damage to vehicles and buildings, with hurricane-strength winds recorded in some areas.
In Eastern Washington, snow, freezing rain, and blizzard conditions prompted travel warnings. Firefighters rescued two individuals trapped by a fallen tree in Puget Sound, and more than 700,000 homes and businesses in the state were left without power. The storm’s impact extended to Northern California and Canada, where power outages and damaging winds were reported.
Experts have linked the severity of the storms to climate change, warning that a warmer atmosphere can lead to more intense atmospheric river events with higher flood risks. The National Weather Service anticipates extreme rainfall in Northern California and continued storm activity in the region. Concerns about the potential for more severe weather events due to climate change have been raised as the effects of the storm reverberate in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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