A potent storm system called a "bomb cyclone" will trigger powerfully windy weather for communities east of Seattle by Tuesday evening. It will create rare blizzard conditions for the Cascade passes.

Though that type of weather system doesn’t often develop near Washington, the last one that impacted the Pacific Northwest was earlier this year in January. Bomb cyclones are weather systems that form when the storm’s central pressure drops more than 24 millibars in 24 hours.

Up in the mountains, the howling winds plus incoming precipitation will combine to bring on white-out conditions due to heavy, blowing snow. As such, a rare Blizzard Warning has been issued above 2,000' in the Cascades on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pass travel will be difficult to dangerous at times over the next 48 hours.