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.

What was expected to be one of the strongest storms to hit the U.S. Northwest in years hit Tuesday evening, hitting the Pacific Northwest — a region that includes Washington, Idaho and Oregon — and Northern California with heavy rain and high winds.

In northwest Washington, strong winds downed trees, hit homes and power lines and spread debris across roads.

Nearly 710,000 homeowners and businesses across the state were without power Wednesday morning, with King and Snohomish counties the hardest hit areas.

In Lynnwood, a woman was killed Tuesday evening when a large tree fell on a homeless encampment, South County Fire said in a statement about X.

In Seattle, a tree fell on a vehicle, temporarily trapping a person before emergency responders could rescue him, the Seattle Fire Department said.

Officials urged residents to stay home as rough winds and seas shut down a ferry route in northwest Washington between Port Townsend and Coupeville.

“There are so many trees and power lines down, we would post the locations until the lights come on. Stay home and stay safe!” Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue posted on X next to a photo of an impassable, debris-covered road.

The National Weather Service’s Seattle office itself was battered by severe weather conditions, causing weather radio broadcasts to fail early Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector in Puget Sound said in a statement that it experienced telephone, radio and internet outages late Tuesday evening.

The Weather Prediction Center had warned of damaging winds, excessive rainfall and high surf for parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.

Wind gusts were expected to peak at 65mph in the region, combining with heavy snowfall, resulting in blizzard conditions – creating “nearly impossible travel” at pass level, according to the WPC.

The “abnormally strong” storm system is considered a “bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone rapidly intensifies. It marks the strongest atmospheric river – a large, narrow band of moisture – the regions have seen this season.

Western Washington saw strengthening winds throughout Tuesday evening and the storm was expected to reach maximum intensity on Wednesday, the WPC said.

According to Seattle’s National Weather Service Branch, winds of 100 miles per hour were measured off the coast of Vancouver Island in Canadian waters around 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening.

The storm system is expected to weaken as it charts a path across the Cascades and through Northern California and southwestern Oregon on Friday.

The Associated press contributed to this report.