‘Bomb cyclone’ looks to batter Northeast with snow, winds

A potent winter storm is forecast to wallop the East Coast on Friday and Saturday, forecasters said, with heavy snow and howling winds possible from the Carolinas to Maine.

“Confidence is increasing that a significant winter storm will create considerable impacts Friday through the weekend from the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday. “Heavy snow is most likely in parts of New England, but is also possible farther south along the East Coast, including the major I-95 metro areas from New York City to Washington, D.C.”

AccuWeather’s Bernie Rayno said “this could be a huge snowstorm for New England.” Well more than a foot of snow is likely in some areas, he said.

The weather service warned that “significant coastal impacts are possible in the Northeast, including coastal flooding and beach erosion. Strong winds may cause blowing snow and some damage. Hazardous travel conditions are likely in parts of the region.”

According to AccuWeather, should the storm strengthen to its maximum potential, hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or greater will be felt in southeastern New England, which could cause power outages.

While the storm’s exact path is uncertain, it’s likely it will become a “bomb cyclone,” a so-called winter hurricane that occurs when a storm strengthens by rapidly intensifying or quickly dropping in atmospheric pressure. Its winds can carry a great deal of moisture and unleash that in the form of heavy precipitation. If the air is cold enough, heavy snow and blizzard conditions are possible, AccuWeather says.

The storm is also likely to gain nor’easter status, characterized as a large, intense area of low pressure that typically develops off the East Coast.

The last notable nor’easter to hit the Northeast was in October. The storm hammered the area with hurricaneforce winds and heavy rains, leaving more than 600,000 homes and businesses without power at one point.