24/7 LivePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaNew JerseyDelaware
Welcome, Mickey
mickey@disney.com
Manage MyDisney Account
Log Out

What is a 'bomb cyclone' and what does it mean for this week's Northern California storm?

WPVI logo
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
What is 'bombogenesis?'
How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term "bombogenesis" to describe it.

You may have seen this week's Northern California storm described as having the potential to bring "bombogenesis" or a "bomb cyclone."

Bombogenesis happens when "a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours," according to NOAA. This extreme and rapid change in pressure forms a very strong storm, a so-called "bomb cyclone."

"Bomb cyclone" is not an official term. Meteorologists and scientists use "bombogenesis."

According to AccuWeather, these storms occur most commonly off the east coast and the most common recipe for it to form is "cold air along the land, warm air over the water."

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Watch Live
ON NOW
\n\n","url":"https://twitter.com/x/statuses/948526030544760832","oembed":"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"}]},"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false}]},"layout":{},"origin":{"source":"wpvi","name":"WPVI","logo":"https://cdn.abcotvs.net/abcotv/static/common/origins/origin-wpvi.png","link":"https://abc7.com/2855506/"},"brand":{"name":""},"badges":null,"tags":[{"tag":"accuweather","name":"accuweather","path":"tag/Other/accuweather","type":"featured"},{"tag":"storm","name":"storm","path":"tag/Other/storm","type":"general"},{"tag":"winter-storm","name":"winter storm","path":"tag/Other/winter storm","type":"general"},{"tag":"noreaster","name":"nor'easter","path":"tag/Other/nor'easter","type":"general"},{"tag":"severe-weather","name":"severe weather","path":"tag/Other/severe weather","type":"general"}],"exclusive":false,"sponsoredStory":false,"developing":false,"breaking":false,"trending":false,"latest":false,"isLive":false,"amp":true,"hideReportTypo":false,"hideAds":false,"featuredMedia":{"featuredMedia":{"m3u8":"https://content.uplynk.com/ext/86878e7b71a34599b6cfa3d4a5bb31cf/010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web.m3u8?ad._v=2&ad.preroll=&ad.fill_slate=1&ad.ametr=1&ad.vid=otv-2855563&ad=wpvi_video","isLive":false,"isClone":false,"img":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg","src":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg","station":"CCG","section":"creativeContent","id":"2855563","cmsTitle":"What is 'bombogenesis?'","title":"What is 'bombogenesis?'","caption":"AccuWeather explains the term \"bombogenesis.\"","desc":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","date":1514992304,"callout":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","type":"video","viewType":"hidden","firstPublished":1514992304,"firstPub":"2018-01-03 15:11:44 +00:00","dateModified":"2018-01-03 15:18:59 +00:00","tracking":{"comscore":{},"heartbeats":{},"nielsen":{}},"tags":"accuweather,winter-storm,digital-video","topic":"weather","placement":"liveblog featured","trackingName":"wpvi","location":"","keywords":"bomb cyclone, bombogenesis, weather bomb","cmsVideoType":"","seasonNumber":"","showTitle":"","episodeNumber":"","webHref":"https://6abc.com/videoClip/2855563/","aspectRatio":"16x9","externalId":"010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web","source":{"url":"https://content.uplynk.com/ext/86878e7b71a34599b6cfa3d4a5bb31cf/010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web.m3u8?ad._v=2&ad.preroll=1&ad.fill_slate=1&ad.ametr=1&ad.vid=otv-2855563","type":"none"},"images":[{"url":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg?w=1024"}],"metaCaption":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","duration":60,"imageCredit":false,"imageCaption":false,"authenticationTypes":[],"cues":[],"description":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","entityType":"shortform","genre":"weather","isSyndicatable":false,"isLinear":false,"language":"en","originating_station":"CCG","references":{},"streamType":"onDemand","ambient":false,"originalImg":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg"},"img":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg?w=992","imageOverride":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg"},"featuredMediaType":"video","inlineJsNeeded":{"chimney":false,"scrbbl":false,"vine":false},"isDistro":true,"translatedPost":{}},"allowAmp":true,"isReadMoreTest":false},"ads":{"network":21783347309,"base":"kabc","kvps":[{"name":"aff","value":"wpvi"},{"name":"chan","value":"wpvi"},{"name":"lang","value":"en"},{"name":"pgn","value":"2855506"},{"name":"pgtyp","value":"article"},{"name":"objid","value":"2855506"},{"name":"tag","value":"accuweather,storm,winter-storm,noreaster,severe-weather"}],"selector":".ad-slot","sizes":{"leaderboard1":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[970,90],[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard2":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[970,90],[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard1home":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard2home":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard3home":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard4home":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"leaderboard5home":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[728,90]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"sponsoredByLogo":{"defaultSize":[88,31],"mappings":[{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[320,51]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[88,31]}]},"sponsoredByLogoEvent":{"defaultSize":[88,32],"mappings":[{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[320,52]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[88,32]}]},"sponsoredByLogoModule":{"defaultSize":[88,33],"mappings":[{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[320,53]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[88,33]}]},"rectangle":{"defaultSize":[300,250],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[300,250]}]},"halfpage":{"defaultSize":[300,250],"mappings":[{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[[300,600],[300,250]]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[300,250]}]},"incontent1":{"defaultSize":[300,250],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[300,250]}]},"incontent2":{"defaultSize":[300,250],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[300,250]}]},"incontent3":{"defaultSize":[300,250],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[300,250]}]},"native":{"defaultSize":[1,1],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[1,1]}]},"interstitial":{"defaultSize":[1,1],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[1,1]}]},"fitt-article-right-rail":{"defaultSize":[[300,250],[300,600]],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1024,0],"slot":[[300,250],[300,600]]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[]}]},"fitt-article-top-banner":{"defaultSize":[[970,250],[970,66],[728,90]],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1024,0],"slot":[[970,250],[970,66],[728,90]]},{"viewport":[768,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[300,0],"slot":[[320,50]]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[]}]},"fitt-article-inline-outstream":{"defaultSize":[[1,3],[300,250]],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1280,0],"slot":[[1,3],[300,250]]},{"viewport":[1024,0],"slot":[[1,3],[300,250]]},{"viewport":[768,0],"slot":[[1,3],[300,250]]},{"viewport":[300,0],"slot":[[1,3],[300,250]]}]},"fitt-article-inline-box":{"defaultSize":[[300,250]],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[[300,250]]}]},"prestitial":{"defaultSize":[1,1],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[1,1]}]},"overpage":{"defaultSize":[1,1],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[1,1]}]},"adhesion":{"defaultSize":[728,90],"mappings":[{"viewport":[1030,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[748,0],"slot":[[728,90]]},{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[320,50]}]},"follow_ad":{"defaultSize":[2,2],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[2,2]}]},"folding_ad":{"defaultSize":[2,2],"mappings":[{"viewport":[0,0],"slot":[2,2]}]}},"breakpoints":{"l":[1030],"m":[748,1029],"s":[0,747]},"supportDynamicPageLoad":true,"delayInPageAdSlots":true,"disableInitialLoad":true,"refreshOnBreakpointChange":true,"dynamicKeyValues":{"profile":{"key":"prof"}},"id":12129264,"disabled":"false","incontentPositions":{"defaults":{"favorites":-1,"now":4,"news":4},"index":{"top":{"favorites":-1},"nfl":{}}},"load":{"defaults":{"desktop":"init","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"init"},"frontpage":{"desktop":"init","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"init"},"story":{"desktop":"window.load","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"window.load"},"index":{"desktop":"window.load","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"window.load"},"scoreboard":{"desktop":"window.load","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"window.load"},"standings":{"desktop":"window.load","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"window.load"},"schedule":{"desktop":"window.load","mobile":"window.load","tablet":"window.load"}},"preBidConfig":{"usePreBid":true,"usePreBidRefresh":true},"level":"wpvi/6abc.com/web/weather"},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgotvwpviresponsive","ns":"abcotv","pageName":"weather/post_video/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone-and-what-does-it-mean-for-this-weeks-northern-california-storm=2855506","station":"wpvi","stationName":"6abc Philadelphia","pageType":"prism-story","liveTitle":"ABC7 Bay Area 24/7 live stream","dateModified":1574799369,"firstPublished":1574799369,"canonical":"https://6abc.com/post/what-do-bomb-cyclone-and-bombogenesis-mean/2855506/","userABCookie":"0","id":"2855506","section":{"name":"creativeContent","path":"creativeContent","root":"creativeContent"},"title":"What is a 'bomb cyclone' and what does it mean for this week's Northern California storm?","type":"post","link":"https://6abc.com/post/what-do-bomb-cyclone-and-bombogenesis-mean/2855506/","owner":{"byline":"","origin":"WPVI","source":"wpvi"},"source":"wpvi","taxonomy":{"adTags":[],"places":[],"segments":[],"tags":["accuweather","storm","winter-storm","noreaster","severe-weather"],"topic":"weather"},"featuredData":{"featuredMedia":{"m3u8":"https://content.uplynk.com/ext/86878e7b71a34599b6cfa3d4a5bb31cf/010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web.m3u8?ad._v=2&ad.preroll=&ad.fill_slate=1&ad.ametr=1&ad.vid=otv-2855563&ad=wpvi_video","isLive":false,"isClone":false,"img":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg","src":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg","station":"CCG","section":"creativeContent","id":"2855563","cmsTitle":"What is 'bombogenesis?'","title":"What is 'bombogenesis?'","caption":"AccuWeather explains the term \"bombogenesis.\"","desc":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","date":1514992304,"callout":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","type":"video","viewType":"hidden","firstPublished":1514992304,"firstPub":"2018-01-03 15:11:44 +00:00","dateModified":"2018-01-03 15:18:59 +00:00","tracking":{"comscore":{},"heartbeats":{},"nielsen":{}},"tags":"accuweather,winter-storm,digital-video","topic":"weather","placement":"liveblog featured","trackingName":"wpvi","location":"","keywords":"bomb cyclone, bombogenesis, weather bomb","cmsVideoType":"","seasonNumber":"","showTitle":"","episodeNumber":"","webHref":"https://6abc.com/videoClip/2855563/","aspectRatio":"16x9","externalId":"010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web","source":{"url":"https://content.uplynk.com/ext/86878e7b71a34599b6cfa3d4a5bb31cf/010318-cc-accuwx-bombogenesis-new-vid_web.m3u8?ad._v=2&ad.preroll=1&ad.fill_slate=1&ad.ametr=1&ad.vid=otv-2855563","type":"none"},"images":[{"url":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg?w=1024"}],"metaCaption":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","duration":60,"imageCredit":false,"imageCaption":false,"authenticationTypes":[],"cues":[],"description":"How bad will this week's winter storm be on the east coast? Here's why meteorologists have been using the term \"bombogenesis\" to describe it.","entityType":"shortform","genre":"weather","isSyndicatable":false,"isLinear":false,"language":"en","originating_station":"CCG","references":{},"streamType":"onDemand","ambient":false,"originalImg":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg"},"img":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg?w=992","imageOverride":"https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/2855564_010318-cc-bombogenesis-img.jpg"},"fmDataType":"video","keywords":"what is a bombogenesis storm, bombogenesis dictionary, bomb cyclone, cyclone bomb, blizzard, bomb cyclone 2019, what is a bomb cyclone, cyclone, winter storm ulmer, bombogenesis, bomb cyclone blizzard, winter storm, 2855506"}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/post/what-do-bomb-cyclone-and-bombogenesis-mean/2855506/","vary":{"host":"6abc.com","cached":true,"path":"/post/what-do-bomb-cyclone-and-bombogenesis-mean/2855506/","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"0","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};