Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are preparing for the season’s strongest storm, expected to bring heavy rain, high winds, and significant risks of flash floods and power outages. The Weather Prediction Center has issued excessive rainfall risks from Tuesday through Friday due to an intense atmospheric river — a plume of Pacific moisture — that has rapidly intensified into a “bomb cyclone.”
The storm is forecast to impact areas from south of Portland, Oregon, to north of San Francisco. Northern California could see up to 8 inches of rain in the Bay Area, North Coast, and Sacramento Valley, with wind gusts reaching 75 mph in the Sierra Nevada, where 15 inches of snow is possible above 3,500 feet. Flash floods, hazardous travel, and tree damage are likely at the storm’s peak on Wednesday.
Oregon’s coastal areas could receive 4-10 inches of rain, with wind gusts up to 70 mph expected to cause widespread power outages. Southwestern Washington will also experience heavy rain and strong winds, with up to 1.5 inches of rain in coastal areas and gusts near 60 mph in the Cascades. A blizzard warning is in effect for Washington’s Cascade Mountains, with up to a foot of snow expected.
In Southern California, dry conditions with gusty Santa Ana winds pose wildfire risks, though rain may reach the Los Angeles area later in the week. The Mountain Fire in Ventura County is nearly contained after destroying 240 structures.
The Gulf Coast is also at risk, with 2-3 inches of rain forecasted for low-lying areas of Florida’s Panhandle, raising the potential for flash floods.
Authorities urge residents across all affected regions to prepare for dangerous weather and avoid unnecessary travel.
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