BUFFALO, NY-- Visitors to various social media sites on Wednesday probably noticed the phrase "bomb cyclone" trending in reference to a major winter storm set to bring heavy snow, very strong winds and dangerous cold to parts of the Eastern U.S.
But, the word "bomb" doesn't actually relate to these potentially dangerous weather factors.
The social media buzz phrase was actually taken from the meteorological term "bombogenesis" which is a real atmospheric process in which an area of low pressure strengthens by 24 millibars or more within a 24 hour period. That is what is expected to happen with this storm as it passes by the Mid-Atlantic Coast. A storm that strengthens that abruptly can bring near hurricane force winds and very heavy precipitation.
The most significant snow totals will be kept to the I-95 corridor; well away from Western New York. But the powerful winds around this storm will drag in some of the coldest air the Northeast U.S. has experienced in decades.
High temperatures in Buffalo will be held in the single digits both Friday and Saturday with overnight lows well below zero. A harsh northerly breeze Thursday and westerly breeze Friday will hold wind chills 15 to 25 degrees below zero. There are Wind Chill Watches in effect during that time period for the entire region.
The winds around this storm may also lead to periods of lake effect snow in the Southern Tier and northwest Pennsylvania Thursday and Friday. Blowing snow will once again cause poor visibility and potentially dangerous travel conditions during that time.
High pressure will return this weekend, quelling the wind and eventually bringing temperatures back into the upper 20s, but only briefly. Colder air looms in the forecast late next week.