What is a weather 'bomb'?

A Met Office "be aware" warning is running for parts of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Parts of western Scotland are braced for strong winds and "unusually high" waves, while there have already been a string of road accidents amid snow and ice.

But with newspapers predicting a UK weather 'bomb' for the second year running, what does the term actually mean?

BBC weather's Peter Gibbs (above) explains:

A Met Office "be aware" warning is running for parts of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Parts of western Scotland are braced for strong winds and "unusually high" waves, while there have already been a string of road accidents amid snow and ice.

But with newspapers predicting a UK weather 'bomb' for the second year running, what does the term actually mean?

___________________________________________________________________

The above (word for word) appears on today's BBC website. To watch the presentation, click on "What is a weather 'bomb'".

Then ask yourself whether weather forecasts are aided or abetted by yet another PowerPoint style presentation (on which I've blogged previously and ad nauseam.

I don't think such expensively created graphics add very much. Nor do I believe for one moment that we are about to be 'bombed' out of existence, or at least under cover.

But I suppose such graphics are a good excuse for inflicting yet more frightening tabloid headlines on us unsuspecting viewers (and license payers)...
___________________________________________________________________

P.S. 3 days later: The 'bomb' shows no sign of appearing here in the depths of Somerset! Quel surprise...
Meanwhile, PowerPoint style news programmes continue apace on the BBC and elsewhere.
___________________________________________________________________