Cliff Mass: ‘Atmospheric bomb revved up very rapidly,’ has hit Washington

UPDATE 11/19 at 5 p.m.: The state of Washington is in the midst of a historic “atmospheric bomb” with hurricane-like conditions that has knocked out power for thousands.

“We’re talking about big winds. Probably the strongest low that has ever formed off our coast is going to an amplifying place (Tuesday) afternoon and evening. Very deep low. High pressure will be in the interior,” Cliff Mass, an atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Washington (UW), explained on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH Sunday.

Mass warned that winds will “be pretty extreme” for residents in Enumclaw, Black Diamond and North Bend. The strong winds are also likely to pummel Renton and Bellevue, hitting upwards of 50 miles per hour.

“There will be power outages. I’ll guarantee you that,” Mass said.

On the coast, Mass warns there will be winds between 60 and 70 miles per hour, which is as strong as a hurricane.

“The only reason we don’t call it a hurricane is because (of) its origins. Hurricanes have to form over tropical water. This storm will be forming over the Pacific and it’s due to large changes in temperature. So the energy source is different, but it’s as strong as a category one or two hurricane,” Mass said.

Mass added the wind storm is “amplifying so rapidly, deepening so rapidly, we call this an atmospheric bomb.”

“This is going to be a bomb plus. It’ll be stronger than even the bomb definition,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mass told “The Jason Rantz Show” the bomb “revved up very rapidly” overnight.

“What’s happened is this huge difference in pressure is developing across the Cascades, and it’s higher pressure in the east, lower pressure in the west, and that’s driving winds that are going from east to west, we call it easterlies, that are now descending down the western slopes of the Cascades and they’re accelerating right now,” Mass explained. “So that’s what I’m most worried about here in the interior of Western Washington, the strong easterly winds, and those are what will produce winds gusting to 50 to 70 mph tonight, in some places, in the foothills of the Cascades, even extending out to Renton and some Eastside communities.”

He added that people should not risk driving through the Eastside Tuesday night because of potential falling trees.

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Is the ‘atmospheric bomb’ winds in Washington due to climate change?

Is this unusual “atmospheric bomb” wind storm due to climate change? Mass says no.

“There’s no reason to think this strong storm is associated with climate change. In fact, a few years ago, I did a study with the Climate Impacts Group here at the UW to see whether the strong storms are getting stronger. Is there a trend? And what do the computer models suggest? And they suggest that there will be no trend in strong storms as the planet warms up. So this is one feature you cannot blame on global warming,” Mass noted.

While there is some rain expected throughout the day, it won’t be the story, Mass said. And they are expected to die down early Wednesday morning.

“The winds are from the east, so we’re on the downslope side, and so there’s going to be a lack of rain on the areas that are getting the very strong winds. So not much rain at all. There will be a lot of rain on the southeast side of the Olympics and on the Cascade Crescent towards the east. But not where the winds are strong,” he said.

⚠️ An anomalously strong storm system will generate strong easterly winds across western Washington later today into early Wednesday morning. Be sure to:

🍃 Secure loose outdoor items.
🌲 Stay clear of trees and downed power lines.
🕯️ Prepare for power outages.#WAwx pic.twitter.com/gAvZGgD8pN

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 19, 2024

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