Meteorologists sometimes warn of a winter storm that could “bomb out” or become a bomb cyclone. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this happens when a storm's central pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

As the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region faces heavy snow and strong winds, thousands remain without power in Michigan.

A blizzard warning is in effect for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a bomb cyclone — a rapidly intensifying winter storm — crosses the Great Lakes.

A strengthening bomb cyclone is barreling across the northern United States, unleashing severe winter weather in the Midwest and aiming at the East Coast

The same storm, capable of producing blizzard conditions with near-hurricane-force winds around the Great Lakes from Sunday to Monday, will direct frigid air in its wake through the Midwest and Northeast and even bring some chills to the south-central and southeastern United States in the week ahead.

A powerful winter storm is sweeping across the central and eastern US. More than 30 million people across the US are under winter weather alerts. CNN’s Derek Van Dam reports.