Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric Rivers – West Coast – January 2023
For the first two weeks of 2023, multiple powerful storms hit the West Coast of the United States. Hurricane-force winds and rainfall levels 200% of average blasted California, leading to mudslides, flooding, washed-out roads, and evacuations of entire neighborhoods. Feet of snow fell in higher elevations, causing road closings, avalanche warnings, and additional evacuations.
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CIRA/CSU & NOAA) created a series of images of the Bomb Cyclone and the following parade of storms. This powerful imagery provides viewers with an excellent visual of the sheer magnitude of this weather event.
CEDR Digital Corps took action to close information gaps between first responders and the public, translating social media posts, creating graphics, transcribing videos, creating image tags, and amplifying evacuation information. In addition, CEDR Volunteers maintained an emergency shelter map and a warming shelter map for the duration of the event.