Bombogenesis And Polar Vortex: Winter Jealous Of Other Named Weather?

A look at bombogenesis and polar vortex, your guide to the latest winter weather terms.

In a related report from The Inquisitr, the recent polar vortex craze has also stirred up talk of global warming.

Before you can even stop chuckling over the term polar vortex, there comes a new term on the block, bombogenesis. Ok, ok so what is bombogenesis? Yet another name new for a winter storm. The term was coined by meteorologists to describe a low pressure area that creates a storm, that can intensifies over the ocean or over land. So basically, the North’s version of a hurricane.

This is a typical “cold air meets warm air” weather situation that can happen over land or water. Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster, explains in a little more detail:

“Genesis refers to the generating (of the storm), while bomb means it’s an explosive growth.”

Hmm, ok. Apparently, there is a potential for this snowiccane to hit any and every year, but no one has thought to give it a really cool sounding name before now. Bombogenesis causes super winds and a lot of precipitation and it happens really quickly, hence the name. Technically bombogenesis is an “extratropical surface cyclone”, so yeah, basically just a lot of snow and wind happening pretty quickly. Jealous much bombogenesis and polar vortex?

According to meteorologists, bombogenesis is happening now and will continue into the day. The term bombogenesis can’t be found in the American Meteorological Society glossary, but is allegedly familiar to meteorologists. All the circulation of the term and talk of the Northern weather is currently going on because of what’s supposed to be happening today. The National Weather Service says we can expect “moderate to locally heavy snow from the central Appalachians to southern New England, including all of the Mid-Atlantic region”. I doubt they used either of the cool new terms.

A polar vortex on the other hand, seems to refer predominantly to “systems” of extremely and unusually cold temperatures. Plus it’s easier to spell and fun to say.

Here’s looking at you Janus (both ways)!

So what do you think of the new terms bombogenesis and polar vortex?