What is bombogenesis? What is a BOMB CYCLONE and why is it freezing the USA?
BOMB cyclone Storm Grayson is barrelling into the USA, plunging huge swathes of the east coast into an arctic snowmageddon. But what is bombogenesis?
Blizzards are forecast to cause chaos for parts of the United States’ east coast today (January 4) as Storm Grayson continues on its path north.
After a sustained period of freezing temperatures, the USA has experienced unprecedented levels of snowfall over the past few days.
Snow fell on Florida’s capital Tallahassee for the first time in three decades on Wednesday and Charleston International Airport received more than five inches - the third heaviest one-day snowfall on record in the region.
Meteorologists have put the recent extreme conditions down to a weather phenomenon known as bombogenisis.
Read more: WHERE WILL STORM GRAYSON HIT THE USA TODAY?
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What is bombogenisis?
Also known as a bomb cyclone or a weather bomb, bombogenisis is the term used to describe a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in just 24 hours.
Storm Grayson looks set to develop into a particularly strong system after displaying alarming signs of rapid deepening.
The National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted: “The winter storm off the East coast has deepened ~24 millibars in a mere seven hours.
NWS
“It is very rare for a storm to intensify so fast (usually 24 millibars in 24 hours is the standard for a rapidly intensifying storm). For all our friends out east...stay safe!”
It is very rare for a storm to intensify so fast
CBS meteorologist Eric Fisher revealed that Storm Grayson has more than doubled the drop necessary for bombogenisis since Wednesday morning.
Taking to twitter to voice his shock, he said: “Pressure of our storm has fallen from 1012mb yesterday morning to 964mb now...48mb! Doubling the required definition of bombogenesis.”
According to America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), bombogenisis occurs when a “cold air mass collides with warm air mass”.
The Met Office says weather bombs are created when the jet stream pulls air out of the system, reducing its weight and forcing the pressure to fall at ground level.
WINDY.COM
NWS
The national weather service said: “This in turn sucks in air which converges from surrounding regions resulting in faster and faster rotation of the circulation, in the same way that ice skaters spin faster by drawing their arms in.”
Storm Grayson is now forecast to plough further north, reaching New York, Massachusetts and Maine later today and through Friday.
Boston could receive more than a foot of snow by the end of the day, with New York City expected to get up to 12 inches.
Temperatures in the Big Apple are also likely to plummet to a bone-chilling -20F (-6.6C) as the storm passes through.
Americans in the storm’s path have been warned to remain indoors and not to use roads unless absolutely necessary.
