NYC Weather: Bomb Cyclone Threatens Snow, High Winds This Weekend

NEW YORK CITY — A looming winter weather system could lob a "bomb cyclone" of heavy rain, possible snow and high winds at New York City, forecasters warn.

Low pressure conditions whipped up by cold air will blow across the East Coast in what Weather Channel meteorologists have dubbed "Winter Storm Quinlan."

The storm's track will bring it to New York City by early Saturday. A more-conservative — for now — forecast by the National Weather Service calls for rain and blustery conditions.

"Winds could gust as high as 33 mph," the forecast states. "Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible."

The storm could develop into what's essentially a weather bomb, according to a Weather Channel report. This weekend storm could undergo bombogenesis, the meteorological term for when a low-pressure system drops at least 24 millibars within 24 hours.

Such a drop could bring sudden waves of high winds and snow, meteorologists warn.

Here's the complete National Weather Service forecast, as of Thursday morning:

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night
Rain likely after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 46. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday
Rain, mainly before 5pm. Temperature falling to around 38 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming northwest 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Windy.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.