The storm, driven by the season’s first major atmospheric river, inundated the region, killing at least three people and causing widespread power outages.

A second powerful wind storm, called a "bomb cyclone," will hit the U.S. Pacific Northwest by Thursday evening, even as hundreds of thousands of people remain without power from the torrential rain and snow still falling from the first one.

The Pacific Northwest was being slammed by a powerful, enduring storm system through Wednesday night that's brought high winds, flooding and left thousands without power. The big picture: As a bomb cyclone that killed at least two people in Washington eased somewhat Wednesday evening,