Don’t call it polar vortex or snowmegeddon - this is a bombogenesis

OPINION:

The big fat blizzard that is sweeping across the nation’s midsection has been named “Winter Storm Astro” by the Weather Channel, which started naming the frigid events four years ago for practical reasons. “It’s simply easier to communicate about a complex storm if it has a name, says Bryan Norcross, senior hurricane specialist at the network.

“Bozeman” is next on the name roster, followed by Cato, Damon, Eris and 20 more monickers just in case they’re needed.

But the aforementioned big, fat storm also has a new name, to add to the weather event lexicon that so enraptures broadcasters and anchormen. So forget the polar vortex and snowmegeddon. The new preferred term of choice is bombogenesis - surely a great name for a band, but in reality, a sudden storm created at the enormous nexus of competing temperatures.

“Bombogenesis typically occurs between a cold continental air mass and warm ocean waters or between a cold polar air mass and a much warmer air mass. Many Nor-easters are the product of bombs,” reports meteorologist Jeff Haby, founder of TheWeatherprediction.com, an educational site. And what follows: high winds, intense participation, heavy snow, lightning - and lots of media coverage.