Snow, damaging winds and dangerous coastal flooding are expected to impact parts of the southern Appalachians, the Carolinas and southern Virginia this weekend as a powerful winter storm rapidly intensifies off the Southeast coast.

Such rapidly strengthening storms are capable of producing heavy rain, blizzard conditions and intense winds that can create dangerous conditions such as downed trees and power outages.

A bomb cyclone is a name that was given to the atmospheric process of 'explosive cyclogenesis' and is used to describe a quickly and deeply strengthening storm. It has also been referred to as 'bombogenesis.'

A historic snowstorm has blanketed eastern North Carolina, creating dangerous travel conditions on roads and bridges in Carteret County. Piles of snow blown by strong winds are blocking neighborhoods, and emergency vehicles are struggling to reach some areas, according to the county’s latest update .