Bomb Cyclone Targets Philly Area, Carrying Arctic Blast: Forecasters

A bomb cyclone will slam into the greater Philadelphia area on Monday, hammering the region with powerful wind gusts and an extreme temperature fluctuation, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory is in effect until 1 p.m., and a dense fog advisory is in place until noon, making roads treacherous for holiday travelers and late commuters.

The bomb cyclone will cause a sudden, drastic drop in air pressure Monday morning, with temperatures rising to 55 by around noon and then plummeting all the way down to the mid-20s by the evening. The storm will bring with it severe winds, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour and sustained wind of 25 miles per hour, making it feel significantly colder at times, forecasters said.

The storm will bring with it a chance of significant precipitation as well, although the current forecast calls for the Philadelphia area to receive only about a tenth of an inch of rain. It could fall as freezing rain in some areas, and a shift in the system could still bring a mix of snow.

Visibility will be reduced to a quarter mile or less due to the fog, contributing to significant travel challenges.

While no precipitation is expected Tuesday, wind gusts up to 45 miles an hour will continue. The temperature is only expected to reach 34 on Tuesday, meaning the wind chill could plummet dangerously low.

"Such strong winds will lead to power outages, downed tree limbs and airborne holiday decorations," Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said.

Strong gusts will continue through the day Wednesday before petering off later in the week to comparatively calm but still frigid air.

Wednesday into Thursday also brings the chance of a potential round of snow to parts of eastern Pennsylvania, though the likelihood and exact amounts remain uncertain. Accuweather says there is a possibility of a few inches to locally higher amounts throughout the Great Lakes and much of the northeast, though only northeastern Pennsylvania is currently included in the band of the storm.

Here's the full forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Monday
Showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Temperature rising to near 55 by noon, then falling to around 40 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

New Year's Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.