A historically strong storm system with the strength of a hurricane whipped damaging winds through the Pacific Northwest overnight leading to power outages across the region. It was creating large ocean waves and ushering in a drenching atmospheric river that is expected to continue soaking Northern California. … In the winter outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, forecasters warned that the season’s storm paths would favor abundant rainfall across the Northwest, a pattern often associated with La Niña … As of now, the Pacific Ocean is still in a neutral phase and not quite meeting La Niña criteria. During a neutral phase, less predictable weather patterns can dominate, something Dr. Johnson called “weather wild cards.”

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• San Francisco Chronicle: California storm hits ‘triple bombogenesis’; torrential rain, hurricane-force winds expected
• San Francisco Chronicle: What the bomb cyclone looks like from space, as California preps for intense storm
• CBS 13 Sacramento: Atmospheric river aims at Northern California, first major storm of the season
• The Associated Press: ‘Bomb cyclone’ brings high winds and soaking rain to Northern California and Pacific Northwest
• The Mendocino Voice: Flooding forecasts for the Russian, Garcia and Navarro rivers as atmospheric river arrives
• CBS Bay Area: Watch: Russian River expected to rise 20 feet from incoming storm