Storm dubbed ‘Bomb Cyclone’ claims 2 lives and plunges over 450,000 Washington state residents into darkness

Two people were killed in the Pacific Northwest as a result of back-to-back storms that battered the region, leaving over half a million homes and businesses without power. The storms brought high winds, rain, and snow, causing fallen trees and downed power lines throughout western Washington. Travel warnings were issued in eastern Washington due to snow, freezing rain, and blizzard conditions. Major routes were closed, including Interstate 5 in southern Oregon. A woman in her 50s died when a tree fell at a homeless encampment, and another person was killed when a tree crashed into their house in Bellevue. The storms caused extensive damage, with cars smashed by falling trees and power outages affecting over 700,000 customers. Rescues were carried out by Puget Sound firefighters after people were trapped when a tree fell on their trailer. The storms are part of an atmospheric river event that has brought extreme rainfall and dangerous conditions to the region, with additional storms expected to intensify the impact. Climate change is believed to be a factor in worsening these events by creating a warmer atmosphere capable of holding more moisture, leading to more intense storms and increased flood risks.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com