A deadly “ bomb cyclone ” has ripped through Washington state, killing at least one person, downing trees and power lines, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

At least one person is dead and hundreds of thousands of were without power early Wednesday as a powerful bomb cyclone hit the Pacific Northwest and northern California.

The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect as the strongest atmospheric river that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season overwhelms the region.

A major storm was sweeping across the northwest U.S., battering the region with strong winds and rain and causing widespread power outages.

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

A powerful bomb cyclone is taking aim at the Pacific Northwest and northern California with hurricane force winds forecast to gust up to 70 mph with as much as 15 inches of rain and heavy snow in the mountains.

A powerful bomb cyclone will slam Washington, including Seattle, through parts of California. The West also faces High Wind Warnings associated with this major atmospheric river that'll bring flooding rain and feet of snow to the mountains.