A bomb cyclone and atmospheric river storm resulted in the deaths of two people and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of West Coast residents

Bomb cyclone is a term used by weather enthusiasts to describe a process that meteorologists usually call bombogenesis. It’s the rapid intensification of a cyclone in a short period of time, and it can happen during powerful storms such as the one northern California and the Pacific Northwest are preparing for this week.

Strong winds and heavy rain is expected to cause life-threatening flooding over several days in Northern California.