WA bomb cyclone is mostly over, but it’s interacting with another storm due to hit Friday
The ‘bomb cyclone’ low pressure system that hit Washington Tuesday evening caused gusts of wind over 70 miles per hour in some parts of the state. But the storm’s worst effects on Washington are in the past.
“The low [pressure system] that’s responsible for the wind last night has kind of moved off in a more northerly direction,” Maddie Kristell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle said in a phone call with McClatchy on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
While the state is expected to see some wind Wednesday as the storm dies down, it won’t approach the speeds it hit Tuesday night. Over the course of the day, the effects of the storm are expected to subside even more until winds return to relatively normal levels. However, the storm could still impact western Washington later this week in a different way.
“It seems to be interacting with another low pressure system offshore, and they may do a little circulation around each other, with another potential storm – not as strong as last night – but another one may be positioned to come through Friday morning,” Kristell said.
Weekend rain showers expected in western WA
As a result, NWS forecasts predict that western Washington will see wind and rain showers Friday and Saturday.
“I would definitely think we’re going to get another round of breezy conditions, but hopefully not on the order of high wind warning-type conditions,” Kristell said. “This one looks like it could have a little bit more rain in it and just bring some widespread showers in through Saturday morning.”
This weekend’s storm isn’t expected to approach the magnitude of the one from earlier in the week. According to Kristell, Tuesday’s low pressure system was stronger than the state typically sees. However, it’s possible that a similar, though slightly weaker, storm will hit the state at some point this fall or winter.
“Not every system that develops in these late fall, winter months ends up in this bomb cyclone, rapid intensification-type conditions. They don’t always get into those places where they can develop as fast as this one did,” Kristell said. “So it’s not abnormal to get one or two of these per season, but the magnitude of this one, I would say, was a little anomalous.”
You can check the NWS Seattle website for the latest severe weather warnings related to the storm.
Thursday’s forecast in WA
The University of Washington’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences maintains a daily forecast for each region across the state. According to their predictions, even before Friday and Saturday’s showers, nearly all of western Washington will still see a chance of rain Thursday.
Seattle, Everett and Tacoma are expected to see high temperatures between the mid 40s and low 50s, in addition to light winds. Whatcom County has a similar forecast, although winds are expected to pick up on Thursday night. Meanwhile, rain showers are likely in Thurston County on Thursday in addition to slightly stronger gusts of wind, according to UW’s forecast.
This story was originally published November 20, 2024 at 12:54 PM.