A powerful ‘bomb cyclone’ developing off the west coast will bring a strong, long-lasting atmospheric river into the region, producing pouring rain, meters of snow and strong winds through the end of the week.

(​MORE: Bomb Cyclones 101)

Rapidly intensifying storm sets the weekly pattern in motion

On Tuesday, low pressure will undergo what meteorologists call bombogenesis over the North Pacific, where the term “bomb cyclone” comes from. That means that within 24 hours or less, pressure will have dropped by 24 or more millibars, indicating a storm that is rapidly intensifying, which could lead to greater impacts than what a weaker storm would cause.

In this case, the storm will also carry a long-lasting atmospheric river moisture plume packed with copious amounts of rain and mountain snow, especially in Northern California and parts of Oregon.

The peak effects of this weekly pattern will occur Tuesday through Friday and may last into Saturday.

(​MORE: Atmospheric rivers 101)

Breaking the consequences

This can lead to flooding in areas with poor drainage, as well as flooding in creeks and rivers. Mudslides can also pose a threat, especially in areas where wildfires have recently occurred. Rockslides are also possible along some mountain roads.

Snowfall As moisture flows northwestward day by day, snow is measured in feet from the higher elevations of the Cascades southward to the Siskiyou Mountains of Northern California. Snow levels will start low but will rise as the week progresses, impacting travel in some passes.

Snowfall at times impacts Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass along Interstate 90 and Siskiyou Pass along Interstate 5 near the Oregon-California border.

Strong wind – The strongest gusts from this storm pattern will arrive later Tuesday and last until early Wednesday. The coastal areas of Northern California, Oregon and Washington can sometimes experience wind gusts of more than 100 to 120 km per hour. Stronger wind gusts will also hit inland through the Cascades and their foothills. Some power outages and fallen trees are possible consequences.

After these peak winds occur, gusty winds will continue at times for the rest of the week.

Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist at Weather.com for more than 10 years after starting his career at The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.