A record-breaking weather event is unfolding across the upper Midwest of the United States as I type this. Surface pressures are rapidly falling and the winds are kicking up big time. Why is it happening and how significant is it?
In a case of classic bombogenesis, this storm's surface pressure has been steadily falling and is expected to fall by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. Bombogensis is not something you often see in this part of the country, but for those in the tropics (hurricanes) and the northeast (nor'easters), it's not that unfamiliar of a term.
Current surface maps as of 10:00 a.m. ET, October 26, 2010
So how could this storm stack up with other notables in the region? In a tale of "GREAT" 'Great Lakes' Cyclones,' the developing storm could go down as the second strongest cyclone (in terms of pressure) to move through the region since record keeping began. Check it out...
1. The Great Ohio Blizzard - January 26, 1978 (958mb/28.05 inches)
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. ET, October 26, 2010: Now the #2 storm.
2. CURRENT STORM - October 26-27, 2010 (959mb/28.35 inches)
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. ET, October 26, 2010: The current storm has become the #1 storm at 955mb/28.20 inches.
3. Armistice Day Storm - November 11, 1940 (967mb/28.55 inches) and Anniversary Storm - November 10, 1988 (967mb/28.55 inches)
4. Cyclone of 1913 - November 7-9, 1913 (968mb/28.60 inches)
5. Edmund Fitzgerald Storm - November 10, 1975 (980mb/28.95 inches)
Speaking of the Edmund Fitzgerald Storm, check out his tribute...
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