Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are bracing for what is expected to be the strongest storm of the season so far, with heavy rain and winds set to pummel the region and potentially cause power outages and flash floods.

The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks beginning tomorrow and lasting through Saturday as the strongest atmospheric river – long plumes of moisture stretching far over the Pacific Ocean – that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season bears down on the region. The storm system has intensified so quickly that it is considered a "bomb cyclone", explained Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.

The areas that could see particularly severe rainfall as the large plume of moisture heads toward land will likely stretch from the south of Portland, Oregon, to the north of the San Francisco area, he explained.

"Be aware of the risk of flash flooding at lower elevations and winter storms at higher elevations. This is going to be an impactful event," he said.

In northern California, flood and high wind watches go into effect tomorrow, with up to 20 centimetres of rain predicted for parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, North Coast and Sacramento Valley.

A winter storm watch was issued for the northern Sierra Nevada above 1066 metres, where 28cm of snow was possible over two days. Wind gusts could top 120 km/h in mountain areas, forecasters said.

"Numerous flash floods, hazardous travel, power outages and tree damage can be expected as the storm reaches max intensity" on Thursday, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center warned.

Meanwhile, Southern California this week will see dry conditions amid gusty Santa Ana winds that could raise the risk of wildfires in areas where crews are still mopping up a major blaze that destroyed 240 structures. The Mountain Fire, which erupted November 6 in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles, was about 98% contained on Tuesday.

Winds will calm by the end of the week, when rain is possible for the greater LA area.

In southwestern Oregon near the coast,10 to 18 centimetres of rain is predicted – with as much as 25 centimetres possible in some areas – through late Friday night, early Saturday morning, said Bann.

A high wind warning has been issued for the north and central Oregon coast beginning at 4pm tomorrow with south winds from 40 km/h to 64km/h, with gusts to 97km/h expected, according to the National Weather Service in Portland. Gusts up to 113 km/h are possible on beaches and headlands. Widespread power outages are expected with winds capable of bringing down trees and power lines, the weather service said. Travel is also expected to be difficult.

Washington could also see strong rainfall, but likely not as bad as Oregon and California. From this evening through tomorrow, some of its coastal ranges could get as much as an inch and a half of rain, Bann said.

The National Weather Service warned of high winds from tomorrow afternoon until early Thursday for coastal parts of Pacific County, in southwest Washington. With gusts potentially topping 56km/h – and likely faster near beaches and headlands – trees and power lines are at risk of being knocked down, the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency warned.

Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo, a patrol spokesperson based in Tacoma, posted on social media this afternoon that people should be prepared for "some bad weather" tomorrow night. "Stay off the roads if you can!"

A blizzard warning was issued for the majority of the Cascades in Washington, including Mount Rainier National Park, starting tomorrow afternoon, with up to a foot of snow and wind gusts up to 97km/h, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Travel across passes could be difficult if not impossible.

Outside of this region, the central and eastern Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle, is at risk for flooding tomorrow, with 5 to 7.6 centimetres of rainfall are in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Low-lying and urban regions could see flash floods.