More than 500,000 energy customers across the West Coast were without power early Wednesday and one person was killed by a falling tree as severe weather caused by back-to-back powerful storm systems began battering the Pacific Northwest.
The death of a woman in her 50s at a homeless encampment in Lynnwood, Snohomish County, was reported as fire crews and energy companies worked through the night to clear debris and restore power after winds of up to 77 mph caused havoc. South County Fire confirmed the death in a statement and said there were no other injuries, but offered no further details.
A Pacific storm system 300 miles off the coast of Washington — described as a “bomb cyclone” for the sharp, quick drop in pressure adding to its power — is bringing high winds, rain and snow, bringing down trees and power lines and creating blizzard conditions across the Cascades.
More than 570,000 customers were without power at 8.30 a.m. including more than 100,000 in Seattle early on Wednesday, the public electricity company Seattle City Light said on X.
NBC affiliate King 5 of Seattle broadcast images of cars smashed by falling trees. A public bus was hit, but there were no passengers on board and the driver escaped unhurt. In some places winds were strong enough to be classed as hurricane-strength.
“There are so many trees and power lines down, we would be posting the locations till the lights turn on. Stay home and stay safe!” Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue said on X. The entire city of North Bend, Washington, was without power, King 5 reported.
“Trees are coming down all over the city & falling onto homes. If you can, go to the lowest floor and stay away from windows. Do not go outside if you can avoid it,” the fire department in Bellevue, east of Seattle, said on X Tuesday night.
Firefighters in Puget Sound, Washington, rescued two people who became trapped when a tree fell onto their trailer. While one person was retrieved quickly, it took an hour to rescue the second Puget Sound Fire said. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The National Weather Service station in Seattle — which was itself damaged in the high winds — warned that winds would not begin to subside until around 4 a.m. PT.
Wednesday morning’s commute for many in the Pacific Northwest could be difficult or impossible. Amtrak announced a revised schedule with fewer trains for Wednesday
These strong winds should die down across the region by midday, but the atmospheric river event already above California is set to bring “extreme rainfall totals” and will linger through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said.
Between 10 and 15 inches of rain is due to hit the northern California coast and inland mountain ranges, which is “likely to increase the threat of life-threatening flash flooding, rock slides, and debris flows,” the NWS said.
To make matters worse, a separate storm is set to develop and rapidly strengthen off the Northwest coast on Friday, helping to amplify the atmospheric river effect.
Northern California has already been impacted by storms, with almost 25,000 energy customers without power at 5.30 a.m. ET, according to poweroutage.us, while 8,500 were without power in Oregon.
Canada has also faced strong winds, with gusts of 101 mph recorded Tuesday night at Vancouver Island, wind speeds associated with a category 2 hurricane.
Experts have warned that climate change is worsening the atmospheric effect. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, boosting the potential for warmer, wetter, and more intense atmospheric river storms with greater flood risks and higher costs.
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