What is a bomb tornado? Bomb cyclone is a large and strong mid latitude storm with low central pressure, weather front and a series of related weather, from snowstorm to strong thunderstorm to heavy precipitation. When its central pressure drops rapidly by at least 24 mbar within 24 hours, it will become a bomb. Two prominent meteorologists, Fred sanders and John gyakum, named the model in a 1980 study.
When a cyclone “explodes” or explodes, this tells us that it can obtain the best strengthening components, such as a large amount of heat, moisture and rising air. Most cyclones do not strengthen rapidly in this way. Bomb cyclones keep forecasters on high alert because they can have serious harmful effects.
The east coast of the United States is one of the most common areas where explosions occur. This is because storms in mid latitudes – temperate regions north of the tropics, including the entire continental United States – gain energy from huge temperature contrasts. In winter, along the east coast of the United States, there is a strong natural thermal contrast between the cool land and the warm Gulf stream.
In the warm ocean, heat and water are abundant. However, as cool continental air moves overhead and creates a huge temperature difference, the lower atmosphere becomes unstable and buoyant. Air rises, cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation.
Strong cyclones also require favorable conditions above the surface. Particularly strong high-altitude winds, also known as “jet streaks”, and high amplitude waves embedded in storm tracks help force the air up.
When a strong jet streak covers a developing low-pressure system, it will produce a feedback mode to make the warm air rise at a faster and faster speed. This makes the pressure in the center of the system drop rapidly. As the air pressure drops, the wind around the storm increases. In essence, the atmosphere tries to balance the pressure difference between the center of the system and the surrounding area.
Forecasters predict that the Northeast will be affected by a strong winter storm from January 28 to 30, 2022. The forecast model shows that there will be a large snowfall from the northern coast of North Carolina to Maine.
Although the exact location and amount of snow are still uncertain, the coastal areas of New England seem most likely to have 8-12 inches or more of snow. Coupled with coastal winds expected to exceed 50 miles per hour, the storm may produce Snowstorm Weather, storm surges, coastal floods, wind disasters and beach erosion.
The life of the storm is expected to begin as a weak low-pressure system off the coast of the southeastern United States. After just 24 hours, the global model predicts that its central pressure will drop by 35-50 mbar.
If the storm develops as predicted, coupled with wind speeds in the upper atmosphere exceeding 150 miles per hour, very warm offshore sea surface temperatures (2-4 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the average temperature) and high atmospheric instability, it will become a key factor in bomb cyclones.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.