Bomb Cyclone To Hit VA With 55 MPH Winds, Arctic Cold

A bomb cyclone will batter the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area on Monday, packing powerful wind gusts and an extreme temperature fluctuation, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday, and a hazardous weather outlook is posted for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

The wind advisory is in effect for most of the area through late Monday evening, with gusts up to 55 mph possible. Isolated wind damage resulting in some power outages are forecast.

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.

At 1:20 p.m. the temperature in DC was 55 degrees, but it is expected to drop to 28 degrees this evening, the National Weather Service said.

"The strongest (wind) activity locally will occur from about noon (west) through 5 or 6 p.m., though winds will stay feisty into the night," said The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

On New Year’s Day there is a chance of light rain and/or snow showers, the Post said. No accumulation expected.

The storm will bring with it a slight chance of snow after 1 a.m. Wednesday night, with blustery conditions expected throughout the week.

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

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

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Windy, with a west wind 26 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Tuesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.