Bomb Cyclone?

No. Really. Bomb cyclone? I realize that’s an honest-to-Bast weather science term, coined by real live weather science dudes, but doesn’t it strike you as a wee bit (like a mile or 12) over the top? Ya know, just a little sasquatch-y and a bit drama mama-y

A bomb occurs when an extratropical surface cyclone undergoes “bombogenesis,” meaning the central pressure drops 24 millibars in 24 hours. As pressure decreases, the storm’s strength intensifies. The name describes the topography of a weather map during such a cyclone. In a high-pressure system, the isobar lines are far apart. But when the pressure suddenly plummets in the middle of a cyclone, the lines are close together, indicating a deep depression. A local paper’s calling it a “ winter hurricane.” (source)

CNBC predicts hurricane level winds. Another site tells me to brace for between 12-18 inches of snow.

Schools, the Y and a lot of businesses announced that they’ll be shut today. That makes a shit-ton of sense. NO one should be out in the crazy snow and winds if they don’t need to be.

Yesterday's view of Boston over the frozen bay.

Still, whenever the papers break out such gleefully overblown language, all I can think is, Sheesh, y’all really need to get laid. Stat!

The Post melodramatically notes that:

Unforgiving cold has punished the eastern United States for the past 10 days. But the most severe winter weather yet will assault the area Wednesday night into the weekend.

The view from my porch at 7AM

Which makes it sound like we’re part of a marriage that's on the rocks. Maybe, environmentally speaking – climate change-wise, we are. Mother Nature (or Motha Natcha if you’re from Boston and I am) is pissed! Of course she is. We’ve been leaving our filthy socks and underwear all over the joint without a care. We’ve been out every damn day and night getting drunk on oil and coal and THEN we throw up all over her good landscape and atmosphere. We haven’t (most of us anyway) even apologized, planted flowers (TREES!) or stopped using plastics. OF COURSE she’s punishing and unforgiving.

The “monster” storm was to start at 1AM. I thought I’d wake to a winter tempest, a beautiful horrifying wonder. Nope. It’s 30º out – warmer than it’s been in weeks, the wind is calm and there’s no snow shaking down on us.

Yet.

I know it’s coming. This is New England fer fuck's sake. These storms happen on the regular. We've got this, K? I’ve done the traditional Winter Storm Panic Shopping and could, now, feed a fleet through next Tuesday. I’ve pulled out extra blankets, put fresh batteries in all my flashlights, I’ve got candles too. My cell, iPad and laptop have been charged and I’ve no plans whatsoever to be out in the approaching windy, mess.

Jen, Oni and I will ride out the storm with peanut noodles (which Hillel so wonderfully brought over last night), jalapeño pita chips, vino and Grimm. Cozy. Yup, we're doing this mammoth storm all cozy style.