First was the Polar Vortex, and now Bombogenesis – the names are getting stranger, most likely to match the crazy storms that have been pounding the northeast.

The post by Philadelphia meteorologist John Bolaris announced “Old Man Winter to Drop, Bombogenesis” is what some think got this newest storm term started.

Bombogenesis also derived its name from another weather term, cyclogenesis, which is just a fancy word for the origin of a cyclone.

Might be a strange word for a storm, but it’s a term meteorologists use to describe an area of low pressure that creates a rapidly intensifying storm, or cyclone, and gets stronger as it moves over the ocean, said Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster.

In order to have a bombogenesis effect, it takes a cold air mass meeting a warmer air mass. That can happen over water or land, and the East Coast is a prime spot during the winter months when the cold arctic air clashes with the warmer Gulf Stream waters, Oravec said.

The barometric pressure drops, driving the winds into overdrive and then the condensation clouds bring the snow or rain.

“Genesis refers to the generating (of the storm), while bomb means it’s an explosive growth,” Oravec added.

The storm, dropping about a foot of snow on some parts of the Northeast, will see winds intensify Tuesday evening into Wednesday, creating this bombogenesis event.

Oravec said there’s potential for a bombogenesis to occur every winter. In fact, he said, one hit over the waters off the East Coast when the polar vortex struck earlier this month.

So bundle up and get ready for the bombogenesis heading toward the northeast at the early part of the week, bringing with it some very cold weather as well.

Image via Wikimedia Commons