Bomb cyclone set to bring another round of snow to eastern US

January 29, 2026

The eastern United States is bracing for a second major winter storm this weekend while still recovering from last weekend's system that brought over 20 inches of snow, caused numerous flight cancellations, widespread power outages, and multiple fatalities. The approaching storm is expected to rapidly intensify into a "bomb cyclone" or nor'easter as it moves along the Atlantic coast, potentially dumping up to 15 inches of snow on Mid-Atlantic states with blizzard conditions, coastal flooding, and dangerous winds. Simultaneously, an unusually positioned jet stream is driving Arctic air across the eastern half of the country, creating what could be the longest cold spell in decades with temperatures plunging 15°C below January averages.

Who is affected

Residents of the eastern United States, particularly in Mid-Atlantic and northeastern states
People in northern Georgia, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, and southern Virginia (under winter storm watches)
Residents of major northeastern cities including New York and Boston
Communities from the Midwest to Florida experiencing Arctic conditions
Florida's Panhandle residents and coastal areas of southern Florida
Parts of Ohio experiencing temperatures of -27C (-17F)
Air travelers (thousands of flights disrupted)
Hundreds of thousands without power from the previous storm

What action is being taken

Large parts of the United States are digging themselves out from the aftermath of last weekend's storm
Winter storm watches have been issued for parts of northern Georgia, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, and southern Virginia
The US National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning in Florida
Major northeastern cities are recovering from last weekend's storm

Why it matters

This situation is significant because the eastern US faces a compounding crisis with consecutive severe weather events striking while communities are still vulnerable from the previous storm. The developing bomb cyclone threatens to bring life-threatening conditions including blizzards, power outages, and coastal flooding to already-impacted regions where existing snow and ice have not thawed. The accompanying cold spell could become the longest-lasting in several decades, with Arctic temperatures reaching areas like Florida that rarely experience freezing conditions, potentially breaking records and causing damage to infrastructure and agriculture in unprepared regions. The unusual jet stream pattern is creating persistent dangerous conditions that will continue well into early February.

What's next

The storm will start developing close to the Gulf Coast on Friday, pushing a rain-snow mix across the southern Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
By Saturday, the system will strengthen rapidly as it moves into the Atlantic with heavy snow and gales developing around Mid-Atlantic states
By Sunday, the snow and strong winds are expected to shift northwards and may impact New York and Boston
Extremely cold weather will continue to grip the eastern states into early February
The current pattern is likely to keep temperatures well below average across the eastern US for the rest of the week

Read full article from source: BBC