Bomb Cyclone Approaches Northeast, Threatening Snow and Extreme Cold

A dangerous bomb cyclone is heading towards the northeast, potentially bringing heavy snowfall and record-setting subzero temperatures to New York City.

The significant storm is projected to arrive in the city late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, with forecasts suggesting up to 3 inches of additional snow for a city that is already dealing with accumulated snow.

“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines on Thursday.

“This storm is rapidly intensifying. As it crosses the ocean, it will gain strength,” he added, noting that the city can expect strong winds as well.

The storm is predicted to pass through the area by Sunday night, coinciding with New Yorkers enduring what may be the longest duration of subzero temperatures in eight years.

AccuWeather has reported that New York City could face 12 consecutive days with high temperatures below zero—marking the longest stretch since January 2018 when the city experienced 14 straight days.

Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather’s senior director of forecasting operations, mentioned that the longest historical stretch of subzero temperatures in the city was 16 days in February 1961, though breaking that record seems “unlikely” next week.

As it stands, the city is still recovering from about a foot of snow that fell during Winter Storm Fern from last Sunday into Monday.

“The lack of space for snow storage is a significant issue,” Kines noted, emphasizing potential hazardous driving conditions. “Some municipalities are beginning to move snow, but options for disposal are limited.”

Interestingly, Kines pointed out that the storm could just skim the city, resulting in less than an inch of accumulation.

The storm is anticipated to hit the Northeast coastline extensively, particularly areas like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where up to 6 inches of snow and near-hurricane winds—up to 60 mph—could occur, according to Kines.

Parts of southeastern New England, including areas of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, are expected to sustain the most severe impacts from the storm.

A bomb cyclone, or bombogenesis, is characterized by a rapid decrease in air pressure, which can lead to severe wind and snowstorm conditions.

The storm is expected to affect the East Coast from South Carolina to Maine, with snow totals ranging from 3 inches to a foot, as predicted by forecasters.

In Boston, snowfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected, while Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. could see 1 to 3 inches.