A powerful atmospheric river-fueled storm lashing the Pacific Northwest left Northern California under a high risk for excessive rainfall and southern Oregon under moderate risk on Thursday night.
The big picture: The heavy rain, snow and "life-threatening" flood threats that are tied to an abating bomb cyclone are expected to last into early Saturday and forecasters said potentially record rainfall was possible, as Santa Rosa in California's Sonoma County was flooded with heavy rains. The storm system killed at least two people in Washington earlier this week.
The Pacific Northwest was being slammed by a powerful, enduring storm system through Wednesday night that's brought high winds, flooding and left thousands without power.
The big picture: As a bomb cyclone that killed at least two people in Washington eased somewhat Wednesday evening, a strong atmospheric river was ramping up and taking aim at southwestern Oregon and Northern California — where the Weather Prediction Center warned of excessive rainfall risks through Friday.
