Bomb Cyclogenesis.

If you don't know what it means, here you go:

"Bomb Cyclogenesis" is a term meteorologists reserve for the most rapidly intensifying low pressure systems. "Bombs" undergo rapid pressure falls as they strengthen, and are defined by pressure drops of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours at 60°N latitude. The threshold for a bomb is a little lower in Minnesota, just 19 millibars in 24 hours at 45°N, the latitude of the Twin Cities.

These ear popping pressure falls are most common along the east coast in Nor'easters where warm ocean waters and extreme cold from Canada combine to produce rapid intensification.


Pretty exciting, right? I thought so, being the weather nerd that I am, until...

The bomb itself blew down our privacy fence. NOT cool. So we now get to walk the dogs in the bomb (i.e., wind gusts of 60 mph, and now some sleet and snow, as the temp plummetted with the barometric pressure). Plus, we have a 30-40 foot section of our fence across the sidewalk. PD and I can't lift it (at least not while the bomb is going on), so it's stuck there for now. Best case scenario, it won't cost much to fix, and/or our home insurance will cover putting up a new fence. We'll see. For now, at least the windchill is 20 degrees above, and not yet 20 degrees below.

RCJ. P.S. the 'hawks play on my bday this year, pretty awesome.