Strong Nor'easter Battering the Northeast

You've probably hear the term 'bomb' cyclone by now, but is it a thing? What does it mean?

The answer, no. There is no bomb cyclone, but there is something called bombogenesis. What this means is that a cyclone, often times a Nor'easter, undergoes a  rapid intensification or strengthening. The definition describes 'rapid intensification' as a low pressure system dropping  24mb in 24 hours.

This happens as a result of a clashing of air masses, when we get a strong gradient of temperature and pressure. As this happens, winds strengthen around the cyclone, and can even reach hurricane force. When this combines with snow, white out conditions and blizzard conditions are possible.

This strong Nor'easter has prompted Frost Advisories and Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Warnings, and Blizzard Warnings from Florida up the east coast. Blizzard conditions possible right up along the coast as this low tracks north.

This system brought measurable snowfall across portions of Florida and Georgia, and around 5.3" in Charleston, South Carolina. That's the most snow they've seen since 1989! Many areas getting accumulating snow, that haven't in decades. Not only are our friends to the east dealing with the snow, but also ice. Ice accumulations measured at a quarter to a half inch in areas in Georgia!

Through Thursday afternoon, snow will continue to fall across New England, with snow fall rates near 3" an hour. Many flights have been rerouted, delayed, or cancelled up and down the east coast, and travel there is not advised. The good news is, this system will quickly move off the east coast and into the Atlantic by Friday.