This major weather event is ending 2025 with “bomb”
By Andrew Harris
The last week of 2025 in Western New York is set to end with high winds, low temperatures, and lots of lake effect snow. Today, a mass of Canadian air is plummeting into Western New York with wind gusts exceeding 50 mph along Lake Erie and Ontario.
This artic blast is a bit different from your run-of-the-mill polar vortex or cold front. This is bombogenesis, which weathermen have coined a “bomb cyclone” due to the rapid change in conditions.
The National Ocean Service explains in more technical terms:
“Bombogenesis, a term used by meteorologists, occurs when a midlatitude (the latitudes between the tropics and polar regions) cyclone rapidly intensifies, or strengthens, over a 24 hour period. This intensification is represented by a drop in millibars, a measurement of pressure used in meteorology. The intensification required to classify as “bombogenesis” varies by latitude. At 60 degrees latitude, it is a drop of at least 24 millibars (24 hectopascals) over 24 hours. At the latitude of New York City, the required pressure drop is about 17.8 millibars (17.8 hectopascals) over 24 hours.
Bombogenesis can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters. It is popularly referred to as a bomb cyclone.”
Utility companies have been preparing for widespread power outages and the Allegany County Sheriff issed a warning this morning:
“Please use caution as temperatures drop drastically before midday causing weather conditions to impact travel and road safety. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, allow extra time, and remain alert. If travel is not necessary, consider staying off the roads.”
Allegany County also cancelled Meals on Wheels service for seniors for 12/29/25.
The unique weather event produced some unique and beautiful rainbows in the northern skies today, this double rainbow was captured by Ron Foley this morning:
