Biggest storm in nearly a decade to affect Northern California and Oregon, US [1]

Biggest Pacific storm system in nearly a decade is about to bring flooding and mudslide danger for Northern California and Oregon. An atmospheric river of moisture, also known as "pineapple express", is tapping moisture from the tropics ahead of round of storms that are flowing over the Pacific Ocean and into the West Coast of the United States.

The system will also bring strong winds with gusts strong enough to down trees and cause power outages and travel disruption along the coast and over the hills and mountains from western Washington state to central California. Powerful gusts are forecast to affect San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, Seattle-Tacoma, Washington area during late December 11, 2014...