Last week in Sammamish, Washington, life as I knew it took an abrupt twist. It began with dark skies and a roaring wind, but it quickly escalated into something far worse—a bomb cyclone. This rare and intense weather phenomenon plunged us into five days of darkness, cancelling school and forcing us into survival mode.

Image Credit: NASA on Wikimedia Commons

What is a Bomb Cyclone?

A bomb cyclone is a rapidly intensifying storm that occurs when atmospheric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. Think of it as a hurricane's cold-weather cousin. What makes bomb cyclones so intense is their rapid development.

This kind of pressure drop pulls in surrounding air like a vacuum, causing violent winds and heavy precipitation. Unlike typical storms, bomb cyclones don’t give much time to prepare—they form quickly and hit hard.

The Pacific Northwest, known for its drizzly reputation, wasn’t prepared for a storm of this magnitude. The cyclone caused the winds to go at speeds over 70 mph, knocking over trees and flipping over cars, while torrential rains turned streets into flooded rivers. It wasn’t just a storm; it was a force of nature.

Image Credit: Yastika Chouhan

The Role of Climate Change

While bomb cyclones aren’t new, they are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Rising global temperatures increase ocean evaporation, which fuels storms. Warmer waters off the coast of the Pacific Northwest created the perfect environment for this cyclone to form. It’s yet another reminder of how our changing climate is reshaping the world.

On top of that, climate change is disrupting the jet stream (an air current that keeps weather patterns stable). As the Arctic warms, the jet stream becomes more erratic, allowing cold air to clash with warm, intensifying storms like the bomb cyclone. This weather whiplash creates dramatic shifts between calm and extreme weather, leaving regions like ours unprepared for the damage. The storm wasn’t just a freak event—it was part of a larger pattern of climate-related extremes.

Image Credit: GISS Surface Temperature Analysis by Wikimedia

My Story

The power while I was out with my dad. When trying to reach home, we ran into a problem - all the entrances to our house were blocked. We parked our car, and walked home.

When I reached home, it felt like an adventure—candlelit dinners and board games with my family. But the charm wore off fast when the house grew cold and my phone battery drained to 10%. By the third day, we were wearing layers indoors and conserving water. Only one good thing came of it - school was cancelled!

However, by the fifth day, I was huddled under blankets, longing for heat and the steady hum of normal life. I never thought I’d miss school, but I was desperate for something ordinary. The storm turned my cozy, tech-filled life into a lesson on resilience.

Image Credit: Yastika Chouhan

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me a lot about preparedness and community. Neighbors checked on each other, sharing supplies and warmth. Friends with generators invited people over and had huge sleepovers, of sorts. I learned how to make do without modern conveniences, and though it wasn’t fun, it was humbling.

Now that the lights are back on, I’m still processing what happened. The storm was a wake-up call—not just about the weather, but about how our world is changing and the importance of being ready for anything. So next time the wind howls, I’ll make sure I’ve got my flashlight and blankets close.