A powerful storm is coming to the United States: what is a "bomb cyclone" and how it is formed

A powerful storm is moving toward the west coast of the United States, which has been dubbed a "bomb cyclone." According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the term refers to any mid-latitude cyclone that has experienced "bombogenesis," or a rapid increase in strength or size within 24 hours.

A storm occurs when a cold air mass collides with a warm one, which usually occurs over ocean waters, the agency said. The intensity of a storm is measured by central pressure - the lower the pressure, the stronger it is - and is considered a "bomb" when the pressure drops rapidly to at least 24 millibars in 24 hours, the DailyMail writes.

American meteorologist Ryan Maue said that the central pressure of the upcoming bomb cyclone will drop by almost 70 millibars in 24 hours, reaching a pressure level similar to a Category 4 hurricane.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned residents of northern California, Oregon, and Washington of possible hurricane-force winds, catastrophic flooding, and snowfall this week.

According to experts, this powerful storm will bring wind gusts of up to 112 kilometers per hour and will bring a Category 5 atmospheric river on land, which will dump up to 50 centimeters of precipitation in some areas.

There are approximately 40 to 50 "bomb cyclones" worldwide each year, but most of them are over the open ocean and no one but meteorologists notice them, Maué said.

"The term bombogenesis comes from the merger of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. All storms are cyclones, and genesis means creation or beginning. This term refers to the intensification of an explosive storm," explained Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.

Scientists note that a cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a central point of low pressure. They rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why they are called "anticyclones."

A cyclone can undergo bombardment if it encounters a mass of warm, moist air, creating a significant temperature difference between the storm and its surroundings. Behind this temperature contrast, a powerful jet disturbance causes the air to rise and this triggers the bombardment process, when the cyclone's central pressure drops dramatically, according to The Weather Channel.

These intense storms usually occur in winter, and are more common off the east coast of the United States, where there is approximately one bomb cyclone per year.

According to experts, the term "bomb cyclone" can also be used to describe tropical storms that intensify rapidly. Hurricane Milton was an example of bomb cyclone.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, extreme storm systems such as the "bomb cyclone" are likely fueled by human-caused climate change.

After all, rising ocean temperatures create a greater contrast between the temperature over land and that of the Arctic air moving south. Storms feed off this growing difference, experts say.

Experts also add that the increase in evaporation from the earth caused by rising global temperatures fills the atmosphere with water vapor. When this vapor condenses into clouds, it releases latent heat that storms use as fuel.

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