The winter storm slamming the East Coast is becoming a 'bomb cyclone' - and the National Weather Service says it could be a 'life or death' situation

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The winter storm slamming the East Coast is becoming a 'bomb cyclone' - and the National Weather Service says it could be a 'life or death' situation

nor'easter winter storm riley bomb cyclone

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A woman walks in falling snow during a winter nor'easter in New York City on March 2, 2018.

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  • Winter Storm Riley is hammering the East Coast with rain, sleet, and intense winds.
  • The nor'easter is undergoing the rapid intensification process known as "bombogenesis": the term meteorologists use to describe storms that become bomb cyclones.
  • This isn't uncommon for nor'easter storms, but this one is expected to be particularly bad.
  • Record flooding in Boston is possible for the second time this winter.


At the start of 2018, a nor'easter winter storm intensified so quickly that it became what meteorologists call a "bomb cyclone."

It appears that's happening again. Winter storm Riley, as the Weather Channel has named it, is bringing potentially record-setting flooding to the Northeast, dumping rain and snow, and whipping the East Coast with wind gusts that are expected to reach hurricane force.

The storm is now undergoing a rapid intensification process called "bombogenesis," which means its central pressure is dropping quickly (an indicator of a storm's strength). Such bomb cyclone conditions are not uncommon for nor'easter storms. But this one could be even more intense than the storm earlier this year, and could cause record flooding and intense damage.

According to the Boston branch of the National Weather Service (NWS), this storm is on par with the most intense nor'easters in recent history, including the December 1992 and April 1997 storms.

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"Many have asked how this event will compare to January 4. Our thinking is there will likely be more structural damage in this event given the larger waves and occurring over multiple tide cycles. Many neighborhoods will likely become isolated, some for extended period of time," the Boston office said in a statement.

On Twitter, NWS Boston warned: "Take this storm seriously! This is a LIFE & DEATH situation for those living along the coast."

Those in affected areas should listen to local authorities and heed advice to stay indoors or evacuate as requested.

noreaster

Eric Holthaus/Twitter/NOAA

A satellite image of the nor'easter hitting the East Coast on the morning of March 2, 2018.

What to expect

Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph have already hit the Washington DC area and snow is falling in New York and the Northeast, with more to come.

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By 10 a.m., the storm had already knocked out power to more than 500,000 and caused more than 2,000 flight cancellations.

"Riley will be a Nor'easter with major impacts on many different scales across a large area," Tom Niziol, a winter storm expert with the Weather Channel, said in a statement to Business Insider.

boston storm

Reuters

The January 4 storm caused water to overtop seawalls. This one could have even more flooding.

The heavy winds are expected to batter the coasts and inland mountain regions, knocking down trees and power lines. They're also expected to exacerbate coastal flooding. In Boston, experts are predicting moderate to major flooding for three tide cycles.

A 3-foot storm surge is already coming into the city on top of approximately 11-foot high tides, with two high tides today and one tomorrow.

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The projected flooding could set records in the city and be worse than the January 4 storm, during which parts of Boston were inundated with freezing, icy water.

Massive waves at sea currently stretch down to Bermuda.

"All in all, Winter Storm Riley will bring in the month of March like a roaring lion," Niziol said.