Read our Privacy noticeA bomb cyclone is set to rock the East Coast over the weekend, threatening millions with freezing temperatures and potential power outages. A bomb cyclone is a term used to describe bombogenesis, the rapid intensification of a cyclone in a very short period of time. North America is whipped by 18 bomb cyclones per year, a study by Robert Fritzen at Northern Illinois University found. open image in gallery The incoming bomb cyclone comes after a snow storm hit a huge swathe of the United States ( Getty Images )What was the worst bomb cyclone to hit the U.S.? Experts say that preparing for a bomb cyclone can help limit the dangers they present.