It's time to prepare for heavy snow this weekend as a rapidly intensifying winter storm arrives.

Meteorologist Robert Speta defines what a "bomb cyclone" is and what effect it has on the First Coast. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A powerful winter storm expected this weekend could be classified as a bomb cyclone, which is a technical meteorological term.

Winter Storm Gianna is rapidly organizing into a powerful coastal system that will lash the Eastern Seaboard with heavy snow, fierce winds and a dangerous plunge in temperatures. Forecasters warn that the storm is poised to undergo bomb cyclone intensification,

A nor'easter low-pressure system is expected to move in from the Atlantic later this week and hit the cold air in the region causing the bomb cyclone. The storm, named Winter Storm Gianna by The Weather Channel, is still hard to predict as specific details remain uncertain.

When storms undergo bombogenesis, they rapidly strengthen. The National Weather Service writes, "Bombogenesis can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters. It is popularly referred to as a bomb cyclone."

An arctic blast and a bomb cyclone could hit the Eastern U.S. simultaneously this weekend, causing another winter storm.

A winter weather system moving through the eastern U.S. could reorganize into a strong coastal storm off the East Coast later this weekend.

Another weekend, another winter snow storm in the forecast. Here's what to know about the nor'easter, possible bomb cyclone and what it means.

A bomb cyclone, also known as bombogenesis, happens when a mid-latitude storm system strengthens very quickly, usually over the course of about 24 hours. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this rapid shift is marked by a sharp drop in air pressure.