Is a Bomb Cyclone in the Cards for the East Coast This Weekend?

Posted: March 9, 2022 2:43 pm

What was once just a minor storm in the forecast for the East Coast is now developing into a weather system that is raising red flags. Forecasters are warning that the storm may even reach the status of a bomb cyclone by the end of the week, bringing the potential of gusty winds, snow, and freezing temperatures to the eastern third of the nation.

Storm to be Fueled by Arctic Air

The storm will get its start along the central portion of the Gulf Coast when the bitterly cold Arctic air dipping down from Canada will clash with the warm and moist air in place in the South. The system is then forecast to move to the north and northeast, gathering steam along the way. The storm will come on the heels of a mid-week weather maker that is predicted to bring snow to some parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England.

What is still unclear is how far to the south and the east that the Arctic air mass will dive. The trajectory of this air will dictate the track of the storm and where the precipitation falls as rain or snow.

A few days out, forecasters are predicting that a large swath of land stretching from eastern Oklahoma and up through western Ohio may see a few inches of snow. This snow may travel as far south as the northern tier of Mississippi and Alabama.

Change in Temperatures to Accompany Precipitation

The change in weather will feel quite dramatic for an area that has been under an umbrella of moderate temperatures. The mercury may plummet 30 – 50 degrees in just 24 hours as the Arctic air drops down from Canada.

For example, while Dallas is predicted to reach 70 degrees on Thursday, the readings will hover in the 30s on Friday. The metroplex may also see a shot of snow out of this system, a rarity for Dallas in the month of March. The snow line may push as far south as central Alabama on Friday night.

Potential of a Bomb Cyclone?

Meteorologists are growing increasingly worried that the storm will develop into a bomb cyclone as it moves up the Eastern Seaboard over the weekend. Should this happen, the East Coast needs to be prepared for the potential of damaging wind gusts, a hallmark of bomb cyclones.

The winds will likely pick up on Saturday and continue into the overnight hours. The bulk of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic will see the impacts of these winds, potentially putting millions of Americans at risk of power outages. There will also be the concern of tree damage, particularly in the central Appalachians and the southeastern corner of New England.

Unlike many bomb cyclones that bring the threat of coastal flooding, the arrival of this storm during low tide will keep this risk to a minimum. However, that does not mean that precipitation will not be a factor of this storm.

When the cold air sweeps in will dictate how the precipitation falls. While some areas will see only rain, others may experience heavy snow or rain that gradually switches over to snow as the temperatures drop.

The speed of the cold air movement will also influence the type of precipitation that the storm creates. If the cold air moves in with a good amount of precipitation still to come, more areas will see an increasing amount of snow than if the bitter temperatures take their time.

Wintry Precipitation on the Way

The region most likely to see significant snowfall accumulation is the Appalachians. This is because the air in this higher terrain will be cold enough to support snow development right as the precipitation moves up from the south. It is not out of the realm of possibility that accumulations may reach a foot or more in the hardest hit areas.

Forecasters are also warning of the potential of icy roads and walkways. If the precipitation falls as rain in advance of the blast of cold air, the standing water will almost certainly freeze over and create problems for motorists. Known as a flash freeze, this outcome is likely for much of the Interstate 95 corridor on Saturday afternoon and through the overnight hours.

The southeastern edge of the storm will potentially produce severe thunderstorms. This line of severe weather will stretch from the northern reaches of Florida through Georgia and into the Carolinas. Sudden downpours and straight-line winds may be the story of the weekend for residents in the Southeast.

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