Deadly ‘bomb cyclone’ torments US north-west with strong winds and rain

At least two people killed as major storm batters region, closing schools, downing trees and knocking out power

A major storm swept across the US north-west, battering the region with strong winds and rain, causing widespread power outages, closing schools and downing trees that killed at least two people.

The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday, and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect as the strongest atmospheric river - a large plume of moisture - that California and the Pacific north-west has seen this season overwhelmed the region. The storm system that hit starting Tuesday is considered a bomb cyclone," which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly.