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What is the story about?
Days after Winter Storm Fern dumped nearly two feet of snow and caused deaths in some areas, the East Coast of the US might get hit by another winter storm.
People are still dealing with the aftermath of a huge winter storm as cold air from the Arctic is still stuck over much of the country, making it feel very chilly. Experts say this new storm could be even stronger, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and flooding along the coast.
In the coming week, you'll see a lot of news about the bomb cyclone and polar vortex.
What is bomb cyclone?
A bomb cyclone is a powerful storm that can strengthen very quickly. This happens when cold air and warm air collide, causing the storm's pressure to drop sharply, at least 24 millibars, in just 24 hours. These storms can bring strong winds, heavy snow, and coastal flooding by making travel and daily life difficult.
Meteorologists call the process of a storm forming cyclogenesis, and when the pressure drops extremely fast, it's called explosive cyclogenesis or bombogenesis. Forecasters warn that the current system along the East Coast could intensify rapidly over the ocean as this could bring winds of 40 mph or more to areas like Cape Cod and the Outer Banks.
What is polar vortex?
According to NOAA, the polar vortex is a large area of swirling cold air that usually sits over the North Pole. It's normally there all the time, but in winter, it can get disrupted. When that happens, frigid Arctic air moves into the US, Europe, or Asia, causing extremely cold temperatures, snowstorms, and icy conditions far from the poles.
Currently, the cold air could even reach Florida and some Caribbean Islands, like the Bahamas and Cuba.
Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli from Tampa, Florida, warned that a real bomb cyclone is forming along the East Coast. This storm will push super cold Arctic air down into Florida.
“Not hype. A true bomb cyclone along the Eastern Seaboard will propel Arctic Air south Sunday,” he said.
People are still dealing with the aftermath of a huge winter storm as cold air from the Arctic is still stuck over much of the country, making it feel very chilly. Experts say this new storm could be even stronger, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and flooding along the coast.
In the coming week, you'll see a lot of news about the bomb cyclone and polar vortex.
As
the nation recovers from a massive winter storm, frigid Arctic air is entrenched across much of the United States. Over the next week or so, two winter weather buzzwords, “Bomb Cyclone” and “Polar Vortex,” will be all over your newsfeeds. Here's why: https://t.co/9lixZ3N2co… pic.twitter.com/e1zA77j8wQ
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 27, 2026
What is bomb cyclone?
A bomb cyclone is a powerful storm that can strengthen very quickly. This happens when cold air and warm air collide, causing the storm's pressure to drop sharply, at least 24 millibars, in just 24 hours. These storms can bring strong winds, heavy snow, and coastal flooding by making travel and daily life difficult.
Meteorologists call the process of a storm forming cyclogenesis, and when the pressure drops extremely fast, it's called explosive cyclogenesis or bombogenesis. Forecasters warn that the current system along the East Coast could intensify rapidly over the ocean as this could bring winds of 40 mph or more to areas like Cape Cod and the Outer Banks.
What is polar vortex?
According to NOAA, the polar vortex is a large area of swirling cold air that usually sits over the North Pole. It's normally there all the time, but in winter, it can get disrupted. When that happens, frigid Arctic air moves into the US, Europe, or Asia, causing extremely cold temperatures, snowstorms, and icy conditions far from the poles.
Currently, the cold air could even reach Florida and some Caribbean Islands, like the Bahamas and Cuba.
Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli from Tampa, Florida, warned that a real bomb cyclone is forming along the East Coast. This storm will push super cold Arctic air down into Florida.
“Not hype. A true bomb cyclone along the Eastern Seaboard will propel Arctic Air south Sunday,” he said.
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