Weather experts have issued warnings for flash floods, blizzards, and debris flows in California and southwestern Oregon. In Washington, two people have tragically lost their lives due to the storm's destructive impact.

A "bomb cyclone" has struck the western United States, wreaking havoc on transportation, cutting power to over half a million people, and resulting in at least two fatalities.

The storm brought wind gusts of nearly 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour) to the region, toppling trees and power lines. It also delivered up to three inches (eight centimeters) of rain across parts of Oregon, Washington, and northern California, according to the National Weather Service.

A "bomb cyclone" occurs when a storm intensifies rapidly within 24 hours or less, typically when cold polar air meets warm tropical air—a phenomenon known as bombogenesis.

Experts attribute the increasing severity of such storms to human-induced climate change. Rising global temperatures and warmer oceans add energy to storms, intensifying winds and rainfall, which cause greater destruction.

In north Seattle, a woman lost her life when a tree fell on a homeless encampment, according to local officials. In another incident near Seattle, a woman was killed when a tree crashed onto her home, reported Bellevue authorities.

Additionally, two individuals were injured southeast of Seattle when a tree fell on their trailer.

As of Wednesday morning, over 500,000 homes and businesses in Washington, southwest Oregon, and northern California were without power,