On December 2, 2024, a powerful storm, classified as a "bomb cyclone," struck the Pacific Northwest, causing significant destruction and power outages across the region. The storm has been linked to the increasing frequency of such weather events, raising concerns about climate change.
The bomb cyclone, characterized by a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure, impacted Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and British Columbia, producing hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall. The storm resulted in the loss of power for tens of thousands of homes and at least two fatalities.
Satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed a low-pressure system approximately 300 miles off the coast of Washington. This phenomenon, which has been referred to as a bomb cyclone for over 40 years, develops with a rapid intensity rarely observed over land.
According to Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami, the term "bomb cyclone" describes a cyclone that experiences a decrease in central pressure of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours at 60 degrees latitude. The recent storm also merged with an atmospheric river, a narrow band of moisture transport from tropical regions.
Data from the National Weather Service indicates a 40 percent increase in bomb cyclones in the Atlantic basin from 1980 to 2020. Experts suggest that climate change, particularly warmer ocean temperatures, may be influencing this trend.
Ben Kirtman, a professor of atmospheric sciences, noted that while the warming of higher latitudes could imply less energy for cyclones, it may also lead to more pronounced weather patterns that facilitate the development of these systems.