‘Bomb Cyclone’ and Atmospheric River Pummels U.S. West Coast

A major windstorm and an atmospheric river are set to unleash a “firehose” of precipitation from California to British Columbia

The U.S. is experiencing opposing weather extremes right now: The West Coast is being drenched by a “bomb cyclone” and an atmospheric river that is pulling in moisture from the tropics and spraying it out like a firehose. Meanwhile, much of the eastern half of the country (as well as the northern plains and some of the desert Southwest) are experiencing drought.

Though the moisture out West is somewhat welcome–especially snowfall, which supplies much of the region’s water as it melts out in spring and summer–it can also cause a lot of damage. The ground can’t quickly soak up torrential downpours, and the burn scars of fires are particularly impervious to water, raising the threat of flash floods and debris flows.

Meanwhile, too little rain has fallen over the eastern half of the country over the past couple of months, particularly in the Northeast. New York City is under a drought warning for the first time in more than two decades. Wildfires in New Jersey and New York have been burning much more frequently and more readily than is typical. I’ll have more on the drought situation in the coming days, so stay tuned. — Andrea Thompson