Tens of thousands of homes in Washington state lost power Tuesday and downed wires or trees locked some highways as Northern California and the Pacific Northwest started feeling the effects of a powerful atmospheric river event,

A powerful winter storm brewing near the Pacific Northwest known as a bomb cyclone is dragging an atmospheric river.

The West Coast is preparing for a long-duration heavy rain event from a bomb cyclone set to form Tuesday.Threat level: The rapidly intensifying storm, taking shape in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, is forecast to direct a strong atmospheric river at southwestern Oregon and Northern California for days on end.