{"id":99072,"date":"2026-01-28T19:12:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/99072\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T19:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:12:21","slug":"noreaster-vs-bomb-cyclone-what-it-could-mean-for-philadelphia-nj-de","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/99072\/","title":{"rendered":"Nor\u2019easter vs bomb cyclone: What it could mean for Philadelphia, NJ, DE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tracking <\/p>\n

PHILADELPHIA – Forecasters are closely watching a developing system that could affect parts of the East Coast this weekend, and with it has come familiar storm terminology \u2014 including nor\u2019easter and bomb cyclone.<\/p>\n

Why you should care:<\/p>\n

These storms are known for producing some of the region\u2019s most disruptive winter weather, from heavy snow and strong winds to coastal flooding.<\/p>\n

JUMP TO: WHAT IS A BOMB CYCLONE?<\/a> | WHY IT MATTERS NOW<\/a><\/p>\n

What is a nor\u2019easter? <\/p>\n

In this scenario, after the coastal low develops off the coast of the Carolinas and Virginia, the storm tracks past the “40\/70 benchmark.” Which would likely produce significant snowfall along the I-95 corridor. <\/p>\n

Dig deeper:<\/p>\n

A nor\u2019easter<\/a> is a type of storm that forms along the Atlantic Coast of North America and typically moves northward or northeastward, according to the National Weather Service<\/a>. It gets its name from the northeasterly winds that blow along the coast as the storm tracks up the seaboard.<\/p>\n

Nor\u2019easters often form when cold air from inland collides with warmer, moist air over the Atlantic Ocean. This clash of air masses can fuel storm development and lead to widespread precipitation. Depending on the track and temperature profile, a nor\u2019easter can bring heavy snow inland, rain and strong winds along the coast, and even coastal flooding and beach erosion.<\/p>\n

FIND THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER FORECAST HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

These storms are most common from fall through early spring, and many historically significant winter storms affecting the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and even the Southeast have been nor\u2019easters.<\/p>\n

\"Satellite RELATED: What are the biggest snowstorms in Philadelphia area history?<\/a> \"bombogenesis.png\" <\/p>\n

A bomb cyclone<\/a> isn\u2019t a separate storm type \u2014 it\u2019s a storm that undergoes rapid intensification, a process meteorologists call bombogenesis<\/a>. A storm is generally classified as a bomb cyclone when its central atmospheric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. This rapid drop signals that the storm is strengthening quickly.<\/p>\n

When a storm undergoes bombogenesis, winds can increase, precipitation can intensify, and impacts such as heavy snow or strong coastal winds can become more severe in a short period of time. Bomb cyclones are seen in both winter and non-winter storms, but are notable in the colder months for enhancing snow and wind impacts.<\/p>\n

Stay connected with FOX LOCAL. For 24\/7 winter storm coverage\u2014Download Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How nor\u2019easters and bomb cyclones relate <\/p>\n

A nor\u2019easter becomes a bomb cyclone when it strengthens rapidly in the right atmospheric conditions. In other words:<\/p>\n

Nor\u2019easter describes where and how a storm develops \u2014 typically off the East Coast with northeast winds.Bomb cyclone describes how intensely and quickly that storm gains strength. <\/p>\n

So a winter nor\u2019easter can be called a bomb cyclone if it deepens fast enough, potentially leading to stronger winds and heavier precipitation than a more slowly evolving storm.<\/p>\n

\"gettyimages-1367704062-scaled.jpg\" <\/p>\n

East Northport, N.Y.: Robert Tallman of East Northport, New York tries to clear a driveway using a snow blower on Teaneck Drive in East Northport during a winter nor’easter on Jan. 29, 2022. (Photo by Ken Sawchuk\/Newsday RM via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Forecasters with FOX Weather<\/a> and other outlets say the system being watched this weekend has the potential to strengthen off the Southeast coast and track northward toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. That pattern could allow it to take on characteristics of a nor\u2019easter and possibly meet bomb cyclone criteria, meaning stronger winds and impactful snow or wintry precipitation if it stays close enough to the coast as it deepens.<\/p>\n

While exact details \u2014 including snow amounts, timing and the storm\u2019s path \u2014 remain uncertain, the track and intensity will determine whether this becomes a significant winter storm for parts of the East Coast.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

In this scenario, the coastal low tracks east into the Atlantic Ocean away from the East Coast, producing the heaviest snow mostly offshore. This outcome would provide a glancing blow of snow along the coast with minimal impacts inland. (\u00a0)<\/p>\n

Typical impacts <\/p>\n

Across past nor\u2019easters and bomb cyclones, impacts have included:<\/p>\n

Heavy snow and blizzard conditions in inland areas.Strong winds that can bring down trees and power lines.Coastal flooding and high surf, especially at high tide.Travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and hazardous road conditions. <\/p>\n

Stay ahead of the snow with FOX 29\u2019s expert meteorologists, streaming LIVE on FOX LOCAL. Get the latest on the forecast, snow potential, and preparation tips. Download FOX LOCAL<\/a> for 24\/7 weather coverage on your smart TV and mobile devices.<\/p>\n

The Source: This article was written using information from FOX Weather, the National Weather Service and historical storm data on nor\u2019easters and bomb cyclones.<\/p>\n

Weather<\/a>New York<\/a>New Jersey<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHILADELPHIA – Forecasters are closely watching a developing system that could affect parts of the East Coast this…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":99073,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1962,1169,69,71,70,593,1133],"class_list":["post-99072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-nj","tag-ny","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-us","tag-weather"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}