You’ve probably heard the term “nor’easter,” but few actually know it’s meaning. It’s strong low-pressure system that impacts the East Coast of the U.S., particularly the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. A storm is considered a nor’easter if its winds blow from the northeast off the Atlantic Ocean. If the winds are out of the east or southeast during the storm, then it’s not a nor’easter, but the impacts will likely be very similar. Although most people associate nor’easters with heavy snowstorms that move up the northeastern coast of the U.S. during the winter, not every nor’easter produces snow.
And then there’s the “bomb cyclone.” The term comes from the meteorological term “bombogenesis” or “explosive cyclogenesis.” This happens when a storm system’s central pressure drops at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. A low pressure system that achieves this mark becomes known as a “bomb cyclone.” Meteorologists also use the phrase “bomb out” to describe the phenomenon.
This weekend’s developing storm will be both – a nor’easter bomb cyclone. Low pressure is forecast to form off the coast of the Carolinas on Saturday and slide up the coast just offshore. It’s orientation and track will produce powerful northeast winds at the coast (there’s your nor’easter), which could lead to coastal erosion and big beach impacts. While it’s moving north, it’s also going to intensify very quickly, with the pressure dropping about 35 millibars within 24 hours (and there’s your bomb cyclone).
For those living in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, it’s time to start thinking ahead for a possible storm that could dump heavy snow along the East Coast.
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