At least 50 deaths are associated with the phenomenon that has hit much of North America in recent days.
Within hours, temperatures drop dramatically. At the same time, blizzards, storms and winds that can exceed 120 km/h affect entire states.
A natural phenomenon with these characteristics, known as “bomb cyclone” or “bombogenesis” (as it is called by meteorologists outside Brazil), has hit the United States and Canada in recent days and its consequences have caused at least 50 deaths.
US authorities have reported the deaths of at least 25 people in the city of Buffalo in New York state. The municipality has been described as a “war zone”, with power outages and blocked roads, making it difficult for emergency crews to work.
Four deaths occurred in Canada when a bus overturned on an icy road near the town of Merritt in the Western Province of British Columbia.
Experts interviewed by the BBC affirm that the formation of these cyclones occurs when two masses meet: one of hot air and the other of cold air. The strength of this system basically depends on the contrast between them.
Meteorologist and climate consultant Francisco de Assis says this is not an unusual phenomenon in the region and that many snowstorms are associated with bomb cyclones in the United States.
“It’s a cold air that comes very strong from the poles and meets the warm air of the region. It moves as a very strong cold air bubble, causing a drop in pressure and temperatures, with the conditions for the formation of many snowfalls This name ‘bomb’ is due to the large drop in pressure,” explains the meteorologist.
Although it is considered common, Francisco de Assis says that this year the intensity of the bomb cyclone in the United States and Canada is above average.
“It hit the entire east coast and central US. It happens almost every year, but not with this intensity,” he says.
Meteorologists say the intensity of the “bomb cyclone” will decrease in the coming days. But the warning for residents of the northernmost regions is to avoid travel unless it is an emergency.
In recent days, thousands of flights have been canceled in the United States and Canada, preventing many people from reaching their homes during the Christmas holidays.
These storms cause weather ranging from blizzards to severe storms and precipitation.
Bomb cyclones are most common on the east coast of the United States and Canada, where the cold ground and warm air from the Gulf Stream provide ideal conditions for them to occur.
Some of the dead in the area were found in cars or in the snow, an Erie County official told Reuters news agency.
Storm-related deaths were also reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas and Colorado.
The state of Montana, in the western part of the United States, is the hardest hit by the cold, with temperatures reaching -45ºC.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said Sunday (12/25) that “this will go down in history as the most devastating storm in Buffalo.”
In Canada, the provinces of Ontario and Quebec are hardest hit by the storm.
In Quebec, nearly 120,000 homes were without electricity on Sunday. Officials say it could take days for some homes to reconnect to the grid.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
