‘Bomb cyclone’ will slam into Oregon today; here’s the timeline

Published 9:09 am Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Meteorologists at KOIN 6 News are telling the Portland metro area to batten down the hatches: A powerful fall storm is quickly strengthening over the Pacific Ocean as wind, rain and snowy impacts result in Oregon and Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Rain chances will start to increase around the metro area by this afternoon. Winds will continue to strengthen as well, as the storm moves closer to the shoreline, according to meteorologists Kelly Bayern and Josh Cozart.

The majority of people in the Willamette Valley will see wind gusts up to 25 to 35 mph. However, Columbia County, as well as Clark and Cowlitz counties in Washington, could see gusts as high as 40 to 50 mph. That could potentially cause a few power outages or damage to tree limbs throughout early Wednesday morning.

The so-called bomb cyclone also will bring in heavy rain amounts to the region. Forecast rain totals in the Willamette Valley could near an inch from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday evening.

Some minor urban flooding is possible in areas where storm drains aren’t cleared of leaves and other debris.

“Bomb cyclone” is a technical term; it means that a mid-latitude cyclone is developing over the Pacific Ocean, which will drop at least 24 millibars in pressure in just 24 hours.

KOIN 6 News is a partner of this publication. Find the original story here.