Powerful “Bomb Cyclone” strikes West Coast, causing widespread damage and disruptions

admin 2024年11月27日

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

forecast /FAWR-kast/

[noun] – a statement of what is judged likely to happen in the future, especially in connection with a particular situation, or the expected weather conditions
The weather forecast predicted heavy snow for the weekend.

trigger /TRIG-er/

[verb] – to cause something to start or happen
The heavy rains triggered flash flooding in several towns.

persist /per-SIST/

[verb] – to continue firmly in an action or course of action despite difficulty or opposition
The storm conditions persisted through the night, causing widespread disruptions.

vulnerability /vuhl-ner-uh-BIL-i-tee/

[noun] – the state of being open to harm or damage, especially from external forces like storms
The area’s vulnerability to floods was exposed by the recent storm.

mitigate /MIT-i-geyt/

[verb] – to make something less severe, harmful, or painful
The government is working to mitigate the damage caused by the storm.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

A powerful storm, identified as a “bomb cyclone,” struck Northern California and other parts of the West Coast on the night of November 20, 2024, bringing intense rainfall, heavy snowfall, and damaging winds. The National Weather Service extended flood warnings into Saturday for regions north of San Francisco as the atmospheric river intensified. Santa Rosa received approximately 5 inches (13 cm) of rain in 24 hours, while certain areas recorded totals of up to 16 inches (41 cm). The Sierra Nevada faced a winter storm watch, with forecasts of 15 inches (38 cm) of snow above elevations of 3,500 feet (1,066 meters) and wind gusts exceeding 75 mph (121 kph). Washington’s Cascade Mountains recorded over a foot of snow, contributing to blizzard conditions. The storm triggered flash flooding, rockslides, and road closures, disrupting transportation and endangering communities across the region.

The storm caused severe damage, including widespread power outages, hazardous travel conditions, and fatalities. In Washington, nearly 376,000 power outages were reported, with fallen trees leading to two deaths in Lynnwood and Bellevue. California experienced approximately 21,000 outages, and Interstate 5 near the Oregon border was closed due to treacherous conditions. Additionally, flight disruptions at San Francisco International Airport and ferry suspensions in Washington underscored the storm’s impact on infrastructure. Officials emphasized the risk of further flooding, landslides, and road closures as rainfall persisted. The storm highlighted the vulnerability of regional infrastructure to extreme weather events and underscored the need for resilient planning to mitigate such catastrophic impacts in the future.

Discussion Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Have you ever experienced a severe weather event like a storm or flood? If so, what happened? If not, how do you think you would react?
Have you ever had to evacuate because of a storm? If so, what was the most challenging part of the evacuation? If not, what steps do you think are important when evacuating?
Do you agree that communities should have stronger protections against natural disasters like storms?
What should governments focus on to reduce the impact of storms and flooding on communities?
How can technology help predict and manage the effects of extreme weather events like bomb cyclones?

Summarization

Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.

Describe:

Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.

inch
record
condition
transportation
resilient