When turbulent weather with whipping winds and heavy snow is in the forecast, meteorologists sometimes warn that a storm could “bomb out” or become a bomb cyclone. But what exactly does this mean?

(The Conversation) – Windstorms can seem like they come out of nowhere, hitting with a sudden blast. They might be hundreds of miles long, stretching over several states, or just in your neighborhood.

A major blizzard has brought lashing winds and heavy snowfall across the East Coast, causing many local leaders to declare states of emergency and restrict or limit travel in light of the storm’s ...