The northwestern United States is reeling in the aftermath of a devastating “bomb cyclone” that rapidly intensified just off the coast earlier this week. The powerful storm system brought deadly impacts, including fatalities, widespread power outages, and the threat of major flooding across the region.
Intense Storm Develops Explosively
The low-pressure center underwent bombogenesis – a meteorological phenomenon where the central pressure plummets by at least 24 hectopascals within 24 hours. In this case, the storm’s minimum pressure bottomed out around 942 hPa, approaching record territory for the area.
According to a knowledgeable meteorologist who wished to remain anonymous, this extremely low pressure acted as a “meteorological bomb” that unleashed destructive winds topping 70 mph near Seattle and 100 mph in parts of Canada. The high winds toppled trees and power lines, cutting electricity to nearly half a million utility customers.
What we saw with this storm was truly exceptional in terms of both the rate of intensification and the minimum central pressure achieved. It was a monster.
– Veteran meteorologist with the US National Weather Service
Tragically, the storm turned deadly, claiming the lives of at least two people in the region based on initial reports. Emergency responders worked feverishly to clear debris, but many roads remained impassable immediately following the cyclone’s onslaught.
Atmospheric River Inundates Northern California
As the bomb cyclone stalled over the Northeast Pacific, its circulation tapped into a plume of tropical moisture, funneling it toward the West Coast in the form of an atmospheric river – a narrow band of exceptionally humid air that can unleash torrential downpours and raise the specter of dangerous flooding.
Weather models indicate rainfall totals could eclipse 8 inches in the wettest locations of Northern California. At higher elevations, prolific snowfall exceeding 50 inches has already been reported in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Experts warn that several more inches of rain on top of the already wet soils have the potential to trigger widespread flooding, mudslides, and even infrastructural failures like the Oroville Dam fiasco of 2017.
Arctic Air Grips Europe
As North America deals with the fallout from a powerful cyclone, much of Europe is shivering through the first Arctic outbreak of the season. The wintry blast follows an extended period of unusually mild, dry weather dominated by high pressure.
The French Alps saw their first measurable snow of the winter, with ski resorts like Tignes and Val Thorens reporting up to 20 inches ahead of opening weekend. From the Pyrenees to the Danube, the continent is feeling the bite of winter earlier than normal this year.
While it’s not unheard of to have snow in November, the amount of snow that fell in such a short time is impressive. If this pace keeps up, we could be looking at a banner year for skiing in the Alps.
– Spokesperson for the French ski tourism council
Storm Caetano delivered not just Alpine snow but also soaking rains, blustery winds, and a rare dusting of snow in Paris. While the snow in Paris was more of a novelty than a significant disruption, it marked an unusually early appearance of wintry weather this far north.
Climate Change Fueling Extremes?
As the planet continues to warm due to the unabated emissions of greenhouse gases, many scientists argue we’re loading the dice in favor of certain types of extreme weather. While individual events can’t be solely attributed to climate change, researchers point to worrying trends.
- Unusually strong bomb cyclones may become more common as warming oceans provide additional fuel
- Atmospheric rivers are predicted to grow more intense and frequent in a hotter world, raising flooding risks
- Disruptions to the polar vortex due to Arctic amplification could mean more frequent cold air outbreaks in Europe
While the debate over the role of climate change in any single event continues, most experts agree the cumulative trends paint a concerning picture of more extremes affecting larger populations. Whether it’s record cyclones bombarding American cities or untimely blizzards burying European capitals, the “new normal” of weather is shaping up to be anything but normal.
As communities on both sides of the Atlantic pick up the pieces from this week’s potent storms, many are asking how much more calamity they will be able to withstand in a world where the weather can quickly turn from mundane to insane. Despite the warnings from climate scientists, policymakers have struggled to implement adequate measures to rein in the emission of heat-trapping gases that make such extremes more likely over time.
Perhaps one silver lining to these destructive and disruptive events is that they may serve as a wake-up call, spurring more urgent action to address the root causes of climate change. Until then, citizens of the US Northwest and Europe may be wise to steel themselves for more weeks like this one, where the forecast doesn’t just call for a chance of severe weather – it all but guarantees it.
