Atmospheric River Covers California, Pacific Northwest, Bringing Strong Winds, Heavy Rain

A powerful storm called a "bomb cyclone" rotates off the U.S. West Coast on Nov. 19, 2024. National Weather Service Portland via AP

The Pacific Northwest has seen nearly a foot-and-a-half of rain and wind gusts over 90 mph in the past three days as an atmospheric river continues to bear down on Washington state, Oregon, and Northern California.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that between 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 19 and 9 a.m. on Nov. 22, several areas of northern California received more than a foot of rain, with up to 17.4 inches in Venado and 15.88 inches in Austin Creek.

Several areas also recorded hurricane-force wind gusts, with gusts as high as 98 mph in Mattole Road, California, and 89 mph in Acorn Woman Peak Lookout in southern Oregon. Mount Rainier in Washington State recorded gusts of up to 77 mph.

Nearly two feet of snow was also reported, with 20 inches recorded in both Soda Springs, California, and Galane Blaine, Idaho, over the past three days. Twisp, Oregon, got more than 18 inches, and Donner Peak, California, saw 16 inches.

The NWS’s Weather Prediction Center reported that the atmospheric river is starting to move farther south and is expected to produce “one last round of heavy rain/mountain snows and strong wind gusts across portions of central California into tonight.” That move south is expected to provide beneficial rainfall to Central California and continue to produce heavy snowfall in the Central Sierra Nevada mountain range through Nov. 23. Multiple feet of snow were expected at elevations above 7,000 feet.

Wind gusts are expected to slowly diminish throughout the rest of Nov. 22. However, due to saturated ground, trees could topple, resulting in additional power outages.

This atmospheric river was the strongest California and the Pacific Northwest had seen this season. It appeared off the coast of Washington and British Columbia, Canada, earlier this week as a “bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly.

The bomb cyclone’s heavy rains and hurricane-force winds caused a loss of power for half a million people across Washington, California, and Nevada. In British Columbia, more than 320,000 Canadians lost power as well. As of Nov. 20, at least two persons had been killed by falling trees.

Meanwhile, blizzard and winter storm warnings continue to be in effect for the northeastern United States, the Midwest, and parts of Appalachia, according to the Weather Prediction Center. Several of these areas, including Chicago and Cleveland, experienced their first snowfall of the season.

Meteorological winter officially begins on Dec. 1.

The Associated Press and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.