A strong winter weather system has the potential to develop into a bomb cyclone off the East Coast later this weekend.

A detailed look at what defines a bomb cyclone, how they form along the East Coast, and the upcoming impacts for North Carolina and Virginia.

A strong winter weather system has the potential to develop into a bomb cyclone off the East Coast later this weekend.

Meteorologist Robert Speta defines what a "bomb cyclone" is and what effect it has on the First Coast. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A powerful winter storm expected this weekend could be classified as a bomb cyclone, which is a technical meteorological term.

The storm could form just days after Winter Storm Fern slammed into the same area

The storm will break records, NWS said, “bringing coldest air in nearly a decade plus” to Florida. An Extreme Cold Warning is in place for Sunday morning, where wind chills could reach the upper-teens in West Palm Beach, where cities are asking customers to conserve power and medical institutions are seeing an influx of flu and asthma diagnoses

A rapidly intensifying winter storm is poised to explode into a classic bomb cyclone along the East Coast, with forecasters warning of “insane” snow totals, blizzard conditions and dangerous cold from the Deep South to New England.

Deep penetration of cold temperatures and a coastal storm will bring bomb cyclone and polar vortex into your newsfeeds. Here's why.