A powerful bomb cyclone is taking aim at the Pacific Northwest and northern California with hurricane force winds forecast to gust up to 70 mph with as much as 15 inches of rain and heavy snow in the mountains.

Northern California and the Pacific Northwest residents on Tuesday were bracing for the strongest atmospheric river storm system, bringing a lot of rain to some areas and creating the potential for a “bomb cyclone” that can intensify wind overnight.

While Tuesday will be dry in Northern California, it will be a chilly day ahead a stretch of rain, the first round spurred by an atmospheric river. The first atmospheric river event of the water year is forecast to bring heavy rain and mountain snow to parts of the region.