What is a ‘bomb cyclone’? [Video]

A powerful storm is bearing down on the West Coast and bringing with it a scary-sounding weather term — bomb cyclone.Bomb cyclone is a term used by weather enthusiasts to describe a process that meteorologists usually call bombogenesis. It’s the rapid intensification of a cyclone in a short period of time, and it can happen during powerful storms such as the one northern California and the Pacific Northwest are preparing for this week.But what is a bomb cyclone, why does it happen and why are these big storms so feared?What is a bomb cyclone?A bomb cyclone occurs during the rapid intensification of a cyclone located between the tropics and the polar regions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, which is something that can occur over ocean waters, the agency says.The measurement needed to determine …