Bomb cyclone: Extreme snow storm hits central US with millions in 'bombogenesis' path

An unusually strong late-winter storm is expected to hit parts of America

Bomb cyclone spreads hits Colorado in US

A strong winter storm has brought snow, flood threats, and high winds to parts of central US today.

The blizzard is being referred to as a ‘bomb cyclone’ — or bombogenesis — due to a sharp drop in pressure over a short period of time.

Areas from Texas through to Colorado, the Dakotas and Minnesota are expected to be hit the hardest.

The winds are expected to reach speeds of 100mph in some parts of the impacted areas.

As the storm conditions descended upon the central US, residents tweeted of the cold conditions and the accumulating snow that closed schools down in some cities, while delaying start times in others.

The storm comes as winter is wrapping up, with may parts of the country already beginning to see the weather turning towards warmer temperatures.

But, while conditions have been warming across the US, some 70 million people were expected to be hit by the harsh winter weather provided by the bomb cyclone.

Take a look below for our coverage of the storm as it descended upon the US.

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[13 March 2019 13:38 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the storm expected to hit parts of America over the next 24 hours.

[13 March 2019 13:43 · Lucy Anna Gray]

This particular storm is being referred to as a 'bomb cyclone'. 

Bombogenesis - or 'bomb cyclone' -  occurs when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars (which measures atmospheric pressure) over 24 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

[13 March 2019 13:45 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Warnings have been posted for New Mexico through to Nebraska over high winds, with speeds reaching up to 100mph, reports say.

[13 March 2019 13:47 · Lucy Anna Gray]

And it's not just high winds. Parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota have received blizzard warnings.

[13 March 2019 13:56 · Lucy Anna Gray]

According to the National Weather Service, the bomb cyclone will bring “near zero visibilities” to parts of America. Travel conditions will also be unsafe, with cities such as Boulder, Colorado, issuing blizzard warnings asking that people cancel all travel plans.

[13 March 2019 14:15 · Clark Mindock]

The bomb cyclone is expected to impact up to 70 million people when it makes its presence known in the midwest United States this week.

[13 March 2019 14:30 · Clark Mindock]

For those unaware, bomb cyclones occur when there is a rapid pressure drop in the atmosphere, with at least 24 millibars lost within 24 hours. That unit measures atmospheric pressure.

[13 March 2019 14:45 · Clark Mindock]

Here is a look at someone's back yard in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the bomb cyclone is expected to leave a mark.

The path of the weather even extends upward from New Mexico and into several states, impacting up to 70 million people.

[13 March 2019 15:00 · Clark Mindock]

The bomb cyclone is breaking some records, and surprise! Texas gets snow sometimes too.

Here's a quick look at a weather depression map of northern Texas from the bomb cyclone.

[13 March 2019 15:15 · Clark Mindock]

The bomb cyclone is expected to bring, among other things, some significant power outages.

Here's a look at some of those outages in Texas, courtesy of a screenshot of CNN.