A powerful 'bomb cyclone' is heading toward the Pacific Northwest, bringing with it hurricane-level winds and rough conditions to coastal areas.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the term 'bomb cyclone' refers to any midlatitude cyclone that has undergone 'bombogenesis,' or a rapid increase in strength.
The latest update has revealed the locations expected to endure Category 1 hurricane-force winds this week.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for parts of Oregon, southern Washington, and northern California on Tuesday from 1pm to 10pm PT.
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From Tuesday afternoon to late evening, winds offshore are expected to reach 80-95 mph, with waves up to 26 feet.
Towns like Eureka, Medford, Portland and Seattle should expect winds over 60 or 70 mph especially near the Cascades and its foothills. To see just how huge this cyclone is, check out the images captured of it from space below:
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"Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected," read the NWS alert.
"Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles."
The agency has warned residents to watch out for 'falling debris and tree limbs' and to drive with caution.
"There could be another bout of stronger winds arriving by early Friday," meteorologists for The Weather Channel predicted.
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NWS has also issued a high-wind warning across the coastal Pacific Northwest from 1pm Tuesday to 4am PT Wednesday.
"The bomb cyclone storm swirling off the coast of the Pacific Northwest is powerful enough to produce Category 1 hurricane-force winds miles offshore on Tuesday afternoon into the evening," the meteorologists added.
KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern said: "We are lucky this explosive storm is well offshore and over open ocean waters.
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"Otherwise, we could have been talking about a major windstorm with damaging impacts here in the valley."
Weather Channel meteorologist Jacqui Jeras shared on X: "A buoy near the center of our Pacific Bomb Cyclone has been showing a rapid decline in pressure.
"Looks like Bombogenesis is met in only 12 hrs (24mb drop in 24hrs is criteria)."
But Jeras' statement suggested the storm intensified in half the amount of time.
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People are already reacting to the news on internet forum Reddit, comparing it to "The Day After Tomorrow" and joking about yet another "once-in-a-100-years event" happening.
"I hope you all stay safe! I’m no weatherman, but that storm ain’t good," someone else wrote.
One user even shared a website on Reddit where you can watch the storm in real time which is pretty cool. Check it out here.