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Washington Braces for Rare Bomb Cyclone, Revisits Last Impact in January 2024

Climate and Weather

Business Honor
21 November, 2024

Severe weather system expected to bring stronger winds and rain than earlier this year.

Washington is once again facing the potential impacts of a bomb cyclone, a rare weather phenomenon that can cause significant disruptions across the state. While these storms are not frequently seen near Washington, the last bomb cyclone to affect the region occurred earlier this year on January 4, 2024. This system brought rain and wind to the Pacific Northwest, though the brunt of the storm was felt further south in California.

A bomb cyclone is the scientific term for when a storm's central pressure drops by more than 24 millibars in a 24-hour period. While some effects were felt from the January bomb cyclone in the Puget Sound region, its winds were not nearly as strong as is expected with the November 2024 system. KING 5 Chief Meteorologist Mike Everett said that is where his strongest winds remain-hitting the Cascade foothills and the coast, much like the storm that's expected soon.

A rare Blizzard Warning was issued in the Cascades by the National Weather Service; the fourth so far this year was for January, when the storm hit. This week, Washington State is under the fifth Blizzard Warning, as forecasters predict an even more severe storm for today. Given that the storm is centered directly off the coast of Washington State, experts say to expect stronger winds and greater impacts than the earlier system.

As of Tuesday afternoon, it was forecasted that the November bomb cyclone would strengthen into even stronger intensification, with a central pressure approximately 950 mb by Wednesday. Residents in Washington should prepare for strong winds and heavy rainfall, especially along the coast and in the Cascade foothills, as the region braced for this rare weather event.