What is a 'bomb cyclone'?
Written by Fox News on March 13, 2019
A powerful storm system expected to turn into a "bomb cyclone" is forecast to slam the central U.S. Wednesday with hurricane-force winds and heavy precipitation. But don’t let the intense name cause you to panic — while powerful, “bomb cyclones” aren’t as terrifying of a weather phenomenon as its name would suggest.
If a winter storm is dubbed a bomb cyclone or “bombogenesis” by meteorologists, it means it is expected to rapidly intensify, dropping 24 millibars (or atmospheric pressure) over a 24-hour span, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A typical range in millibars is around 10 to 15.
Read on for a look at these storms, and how often they can occur.
What is a bombogenesis?
Heavy snow and wind from a "bomb cyclone" is pictured. (Wildwood Police Department)
The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure, Fox News’ Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean reports.
“The central pressure of an area of low pressure [winter storm] must drop at least 24 millibars in 24 hours to qualify,” Dean explained. “Several major impacts will include strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding especially with high tide.”
A decrease in pressure intensifies the power of the storm, Chris Bianchi is a meteorologist for WeatherNation TV, explained to the Denver Post.
A bombogenesis storm can be tropical or non-tropical, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a blog post.
“In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening.”
“The term bombogenesis comes from the merging of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. All storms are cyclones, and genesis means the creation or beginning,” Sosnowski said. “In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening.”
Bianchi said proximity to a large body of water, particularly an ocean, during cold months contributes to the creation of a bomb cyclone.
"The difference in temperature between the normally warmer ocean (particularly in the Atlantic, with the Gulf Stream pumping up warmer water from the south) and the cold landmass often creates the fuel source for powerful East Coast lows," he stated in a blog post.
What happens during one of these storms?
If you’re caught in the path of a bomb cyclone, you could expect to see intense wind gusts or large amounts of snow.
The intensity of a bomb cyclone oftentimes peaks once the storm reaches New England, according to Wired.
Are they unusual?
It’s not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center, previously told Fox News.
Bombogenesis Nor’easters actually occur most winters, WNYW-TV reported.
Source: Fox News National
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