ST. LOUIS – A significant weather change is expected on Wednesday as temperatures dip closer to November norms. However, this shift is minor compared to the massive storm hitting the Pacific Northwest.
The bomb cyclone rapidly developed in the past 24 hours off the coast of Washington and Oregon, with the storm’s central pressure dropping dramatically, similar to a Category 4 hurricane.
This intense storm is drawing in an atmospheric river—a narrow, concentrated band of moisture that can bring heavy rain and snow. The atmospheric river spans over 4,000 miles and is headed toward Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The impacts will include more than a foot of rain and several feet of snow in the mountains.
This storm will influence broader weather patterns across the U.S., which will shorten the cold snap set to briefly settle over the region late this week. Milder air will move in by the weekend as the pattern will be forced to move along by the remnants of the atmospheric river.
However, even colder weather could return closer to Thanksgiving. The forecast is one to keep an eye on for next week.