What’s a bomb cyclone? Storm to bring bitter cold, heavy snow to NC
Another winter storm is headed to North Carolina, and it’s bringing more snow than before.
This latest round of winter weather is tied to a Mid-Atlantic storm system, known as a bomb cyclone, quickly intensifying along the Atlantic Coast, dumping significant snow “from the Carolinas to New England” over the next several days, AccuWeather reported.
So what exactly is a bomb cyclone? And what does it mean for North Carolina?
Here’s what to know ahead of the winter storm:
What’s a bomb cyclone?
Bombogenesis, popularly known as a bomb cyclone, occurs when a midlatitude cyclone experiences a drop in atmospheric pressure and rapidly strengthens in a 24-hour period, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Generally “a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters,” experts said.
North Carolinians are sure to feel the impacts of the powerful storm, with heavy snow and bitter cold moving into the region this weekend. A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect Friday, Jan. 30 afternoon through early Sunday, Feb. 1, and parts of the state could see between 4 and 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
How cold could it get in NC?
The short of it? It will be dangerously cold, so bundle up.
Wind chills as low as -4°F are possible in central North Carolina late Saturday night through Sunday morning, the NWS said. Parts of western North Carolina could feel chills as low as 22 below zero.
“Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes,” forecasters said.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 3:22 PM.