NOAA Warns Bomb Cyclone to Slam East Coast This Weekend
NOAA and the National Weather Service warn a Jan. 30–Feb. 1 bomb cyclone could bring heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding.
Overview
The National Weather Service and NOAA said on Jan. 29 that a bomb cyclone forming off the Carolinas will bring heavy snow and powerful onshore winds from Jan. 30 into Feb. 1.
The National Weather Service's official forecast on Jan. 29 shows 8.4 inches in Raleigh, 7 inches in Greensboro and 6 inches in Charlotte, raising concern for major disruptions in North Carolina.
AccuWeather's Scott Homan said in a Jan. 29 email that dangerous blizzard conditions are possible from North Carolina to the southern Jersey shore, and NOAA's Peter Mullinax warned of gusts near 40 mph.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center on Jan. 28 showed roughly a 20% chance of extreme impacts in the Carolinas and eastern Virginia and over a 60% chance of moderate impacts from central South Carolina to southeastern Virginia.
Forecasters said on Jan. 29 the storm will form Friday night and could produce significant coastal flooding on Sunday Feb. 1, with uncertainty remaining over heavy snow placement into Boston.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources apply mild editorial framing that emphasizes threat and urgency by using evocative phrases (e.g., "bomb cyclone," "unleash," "howling winds") and foregrounding stark impacts and NWS warnings. Source content, however, repeatedly communicates uncertainty and model disagreement—showing editorial choices highlight worst-case scenarios while preserving scientific caveats.
Sources (6)
FAQ
The storm will primarily impact the Carolinas and eastern Virginia, with heavy snow in Raleigh (8.4 inches), Greensboro (7 inches), and Charlotte (6 inches), and potential blizzard conditions from North Carolina to the southern Jersey shore.
Heavy snow, strong onshore winds with gusts near 40 mph, dangerous blizzard conditions, and significant coastal flooding are expected from January 30 to February 1.
The storm is forecast to form Friday night (January 30) and impact the region from late January 30 into February 1, with coastal flooding peaking on Sunday, February 1.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center indicates a 20% chance of extreme impacts in the Carolinas and eastern Virginia, and over 60% chance of moderate impacts from central South Carolina to southeastern Virginia.
History
3 sources