The bomb cyclone has grounded nearly 3,000 flights…so far
Today, Thursday, January 4th, those in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast are in the midst of the “bomb cyclone.” And airlines cancelled nearly 3,000 flights due to the storm.
According to CNBC, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey cancelled 856 Thursday flights. Boston Logan International Airport cancelled 685. As of 9:45 a.m., plane-tracking website FlightAware reported 3,875 U.S. flights in total had been cancelled due to the storm.
Delta Air Lines, Jet Blue, and American Airlines are waiving change fees for travelers affected by cancellations. Southwest Airlines warned passengers that flights to 19 East Coast airports may be cancelled. The airline highly recommended travelers change their flights ahead of the storm to avoid being stranded.
CNN reported that American Airlines suspended all Thursday departures from Boston Logan Airport. And 90% of Thursday flights from New York’s LaGuardia Airport are cancelled.
Some areas in the Northeast are expected to receive 12 inches of snow, heavy winds, and biting cold temperatures. The bomb cyclone is affecting areas all along the East Coast, from Floria to Maine. Although many of us may have never heard of a storm being referred to as a “bomb cyclone” before, you’ve probably experienced one in the past if you live on the East Coast.
Incredible view of the #bombcyclone from space courtesy of #GOESEast. Classic comma head from a storm like this. pic.twitter.com/ddHory7km3
— Eileen Whelan (@Eileen7News) January 4, 2018
Wicked Big Stawm Comin’ #MAsnow #BombCyclone pic.twitter.com/PsS60IjYKP
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) January 3, 2018
Bombogenesis happens when “a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours,” according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Millibars measure atmospheric pressure, and the sudden dropping of millibars happens when cold air collides with warm air and rapidly intensifies a storm.
A violent #bombcyclone has continued to move up the East Coast, shutting schools, canceling flights, knocking out power and sparking fears of coastal flooding. https://t.co/cyvrI265qE #blizzard2018 pic.twitter.com/i1b3sH4wyQ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 4, 2018
Now that you north-easterners aren’t going anywhere, cuddle up inside with a good book and a cup of tea and watch the storm pass by. You’ll need to rest up so you can wield your shovel tomorrow morning.
