What is a #bombcyclone, and when should we expect it?

What is a bomb cyclone? All cyclones in the northern hemisphere are centers of low pressure. They can be a simple low on a map bringing the typical changing weather, a tropical storm, a hurricane for example. Hurricanes and tropical storms are tropical because of their characteristic of having a warm core. This system is an area of low pressure that will become massive, deep (low pressure), and will cause some major weather changes over a vast area of the planet. The 'bomb' part comes from the fact that this low will intensify rapidly, so much so that it will have what is considered explosive intensification. For example, right now here in Central Ohio, we have cold high pressure in command for the moment, and our surface pressure is roughly 1030 millibars. Well this system will develop tomorrow morning with pressure at about 1005 millibars, so lower pressure for sure. But within 24-30 hours, some forecast models have this pressure dropping 30-40 or more millibars, which is incredible. It would be an alarming drop in pressure for a hurricane as well. For the record, Hurricane Wilma in 2005 had a 24 hour record pressure drop of 97 millibars. How does the forecast pressure minimum compare to a hurricane? Well according to some of the forecast models, this storm could drop its central pressure into the 950 millibar range. If it were to get that low, it would be a deeper low than many of our hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic in 2017. Tropical Storm Don, Bret, Emily, Philippe, Rina, Cindy, Arlene, and Hurricanes Nate, Franklin, Katia, Gert, Lee, and Ophelia all had higher central pressure minimums than this storm may have. Lee and Ophelia were cat. 3 storms too! So what are we going to see happen on Wednesday and Thursday? First, there are winter weather advisories to winter storm warnings from Florida to Maine. Let that sink in, WINTER STORM WARNINGS IN FLORIDA!!! The bulk of what falls in northern Florida could fall as mainly icy mix, which we all know is worse than getting some snow. This will be a threat up the east coast, and with stronger and gustier winds expected as the storm builds north, this could risk power outages and many other hazards from ice.

• 2018-01-04T09:51:11+00:00
• Duration: 01:45

• BombCyclone
• News
• news2018
• Weather
• Winter

Share

Keywords