A powerful ‘bomb cyclone’ fueled by a Category 5 atmospheric river, is forecast to strike the West Coast of the US this week. The storm threatens to bring hurricane-force winds, catastrophic flooding, and massive snowfall in the mountains, Weather Nation TV reported.  

The intense mid-latitude storm is expected to impact regions from Washington State to Oregon and Northern California between Tuesday and Thursday, potentially affecting millions of residents, according to Xinhua news agency.  

Coastal areas of California could experience “extreme” level 4 impacts. “This intense storm system is expected to bring major impacts to the Northwest and Northern California with heavy rain, strong winds, and large swells,” it noted.  

What is Bomb Cyclone?

Atmospheric rivers are narrow atmospheric corridors capable of transporting vast amounts of moisture. They occur when cold Arctic air meets warm, tropical air, leading to heavy precipitation. Meanwhile, a “bomb cyclone” forms when a cold air mass collides with a warm one, rapidly intensifying the storm and increasing the risk of violent winds and coastal flooding.  

(IANS)