According to the Meteorological department, a bomb cyclone smashed into the western US state of California on Wednesday 4 January.
The region had already been severely pummelling by a series of storms that caused power outages and flooded roads. The cyclone delivered torrential rains that threatened to submerge the area. The strong gusts were blowing at about 70 km per hour.
The governor has declared a state of emergency. and residents have been urged by state officials to forgo all unnecessary travel.
