As millions grapple with the aftermath of a powerful winter storm that brought heavy snow and ice, widespread power outages, and deadly cold to the Eastern U.S., this weekend’s forecast suggests another round of severe weather is already on the way.

Early Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said that while much remains uncertain, chances have increased for a potentially significant storm that could bring impactful snow and wind to the immediate East Coast this weekend.

“Continued very cold temperatures will blanket the eastern half of the U.S. into next week,” the NWS statement reads. “A strong surface low-pressure system is expected to rapidly develop off the Southeast Coast Saturday and move off the Mid-Atlantic Sunday, prompting widespread gusty winds. This surface low interacting with the very cold air mass will result in widespread heavy precipitation.”

A bomb cyclone on the way?

Forecasters say Europe’s ECMWF, a leading global weather model, indicates that this system could rapidly intensify into a bomb cyclone. In fact, the model simulates a system stronger than a “double bomb,” strengthening 180% faster than the minimum threshold for bombogenesis, meteorologist Ben Noll reports for the Washington Post.

Bombogenesis occurs when a mid-latitude storm’s central atmospheric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours, signaling rapid intensification. Bomb cyclones are more hazardous than your average winter storm because they’re capable of producing hurricane-force wind gusts and extremely heavy precipitation.

Increasing confidence in an obscenely large and powerful “bomb cyclone” blizzard spinning off the U.S. East Coast this weekend.

Uncertainty remaining: Formation location + track to determine coastal snowfall impacts.

No snowfall maps need apply until Tuesday evening. pic.twitter.com/2TBRmccGwA

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 27, 2026

If a bomb cyclone does make landfall this weekend, it could compound the hazards of an already dangerous situation. As of Tuesday morning, more than 550,000 East Coasters remained without power as crews worked to repair damage from last weekend’s winter storm. For residents who rely on electricity as their primary source of heat—particularly in many Southeastern states—outages could mean days without heat.

A bomb cyclone may not only extend those outages but also exacerbate life-threateningly cold temperatures. Gusty winds could send wind chills plummeting well below zero, raising the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and frozen pipes. At least 30 people have already died in states contending with severe cold this week, the Associated Press reports.

The forecast remains uncertain

A bomb cyclone is the worst-case scenario for this storm, but even if it doesn’t rapidly intensify, it’s looking like the East Coast is in for at least a few more inches of snow this weekend. Unlike last weekend’s storm, which produced both heavy snow and ice, this one will likely be all snow due to the preexisting cold air in place, Noll reports.

It’s too soon to say how much snow will fall or exactly where. The NWS says the storm’s track and strength—which will determine precipitation types, amounts, and locations—are still uncertain. As a result, potential impacts to travel, infrastructure, and public safety also remain unclear. Much of this will depend on how close the storm gets to the eastern seaboard.

What is clear is that the extreme cold is here to stay—at least for the next two weeks. The polar vortex—the normally tight circulation of cold air and low pressure over the North Pole—is currently distorted. This allowed frigid Arctic air to spill southward into North America ahead of last weekend’s winter storm, supercharging its impact. According to Judah Cohen, an MIT climatologist who tracks polar vortex activity, more Arctic blasts are on the way.

With cold temperatures firmly in place and East Coasters bracing for another bout of potentially heavy snow, the region could be facing another dangerous weekend. It will be important to monitor your local forecast closely as this storm takes shape over the course of the week.