120,000+ Without Power Due to California Storms

According to Reuters, two storm phenomena—an atmospheric river and a bomb cyclone—have contributed to power outages to more than 120,000 homes and businesses in Northern California. The National Weather Service predicts that more extreme winter weather is on its way for the state.

Reuters reported that the storm systems, which hit the state last week, also caused at least 12 deaths, as strong gusts of wind and rain toppled trucks, flooded roads, and destroyed a pier along California’s northern coastline.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAH), an atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere, resembling a river in the sky, that transports most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. The column of vapor that it moves is roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When an atmospheric river makes landfall, it releases this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.

A bomb cyclone (also called bombogenesis or explosive cyclogenesis) is a midlatitude cyclone (a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms) that rapidly intensifies over a 24-hour period.

The National Weather Service is expecting two major episodes of heavy rain and heavy mountain snow to impact Central and Southern California in quick succession during the middle of the week in association with an energetic and moisture-laden parade of cyclones aimed directly for the state. Mudslides, flooding, downed trees, power outages, and damaged infrastructure are all likely outcomes. People across the region are advised to check their local forecasts, never drive across flooded roadways, and have both an emergency kit and evacuation plan in place.

To learn more about dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters, check out 10 Steps to Safe Disaster Recovery.