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 .

As recovery from a historic ice storm continues across parts of the South, a new and potentially dangerous winter weather threat is set to unfold along the East Coast. A powerful bomb cyclone could bring blizzard conditions to portions of the Carolinas and southern Virginia this weekend.

Deep penetration of cold temperatures and a coastal storm will bring bomb cyclone and polar vortex into your newsfeeds. Here's why.

The coastal storm is still taking shape but seems likely to be designated a "bomb cyclone."

A "bomb cyclone" looks to avoid our area in terms of significant snow, but could bring coastal wind and flooding impacts.

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.'