Storm Train for Pacific Coast Could include at least one ‘Bomb Cyclone’
Enhanced RealVueTM Satellite images from Wednesday morning, December 11, show the train of storms barreling toward the West Coast.
Rain and sleet are accumulating over the Pacific Ocean for an onslaught that can cause travel problems, at the very least, from Washington to Northern California.
The storms are predicted to develop into bomb cyclones, according to AccuWeather.
Brett Anderson, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, said storms are expected in the Northwest every two to three days through Christmas.
Storms may organize long plumes of moisture that act as an atmospheric firehose. As atmospheric rivers, they are often referred to by meteorologists.
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Storms will start rolling in Wednesday night, focusing on Oregon and Northern California.
Several parts of Northern California will get rain for the first time since Thanksgiving, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said.
The heavy rain with this first storm is forecast for Wednesday night, then quickly moves southward through the San Francisco Bay area before dawn, down through Central California.
Northern California and parts of western Oregon can expect between 0.50 and 1 inch of rain. There may be a few hours of rain around Los Angeles Thursday despite the rain diminishing farther south.
Storm number two is expected to hit Washington and British Columbia this week. Houk said this second storm’s chances of becoming a bomb cyclone are good.
Storms with a central pressure higher than 0.71 inches of mercury in 24 hours are called bomb cyclones.
Northern California, including the San Francisco area, will see rain overflowing Friday through Saturday.
According to Houk, this second storm will produce amounts of 2 to 4 inches along the coast and in the mountains, posing a flood risk. It is likely that at least two storms will bring snow to the mountains.
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