A powerful storm struck the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and British Columbia, Canada, on 19 November 2024, leaving 290,000 buildings without power and claiming at least two lives in Washington state. More than 70,000 people in British Columbia were also left without electricity.

The storm, called a “bomb cyclone” by weather enthusiasts, brought wind gusts of up to 124 km/h, followed by torrential rainfall that persisted for days, threatening the region with flooding, rockslides, and debris flows.

Bomb Cyclone USA res
US and Canada. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery

This Copernicus Sentinel-3 image shows the bomb cyclone as it approaches the west coasts of the US and Canada on 19 November.

Open data from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites helps track the movement of cyclones and other tropical storms, providing key insights into extreme weather patterns.

Featured image credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery

Image
Global water resources at risk: WMO report warns of increasing hydrological instabilityClimate

Global water resources at risk: WMO report warns of increasing hydrological instability

The year 2023 marked a critical low point for global water resources, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest State of Global Water Resources…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreOctober 7, 2024 Full article
Severe drought
Hottest year on record drives global water disastersNews

Hottest year on record drives global water disasters

A year of unprecedented heat in 2024 disrupted global water systems, exacerbating floods, droughts, and storms worldwide. A report by The Australian National University (ANU),…
SourceSourceJanuary 6, 2025 Full article
Image: Wildfire (s. forest, fire, climate)
Extreme bushfires increasing in number and intensityClimateNewsScience

Extreme bushfires increasing in number and intensity

By University of Tasmania Extreme bushfires have more than doubled in frequency and intensity over the past two decades, according to a global study from…
SourceSourceJune 24, 2024 Full article