Strong onshore winds capable of causing power outages and some coastal flooding at high tide threaten the East Coast from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to New England, meteorologists say.

Amid unrelenting frigid temperatures, a bomb cyclone off Long Island's Atlantic coast is expected to bring up to 3 inches of snow, high winds and beach erosion, particularly to the East End, forecasters said.

The “bomb cyclone” about to wallop the East Coast has been referred to as a bombogenesis by meteorologists — leaving many scratching their heads. It’s also left Americans still digging themselves out of a foot or more of snowfall from last weekend’s Winter Storm Fern, worrying about being buried by another few inches.

A rapidly intensifying winter storm on the Atlantic Coast could bring blizzard conditions to parts of VA this weekend. See snow estimates.

AccuWeather says the potential is growing for a very strong nor'easter on Saturday and Sunday with widespread impacts from snow, wind and coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a "significant East Coast winter storm threat" for this weekend, with a coastal low forming Friday and rapidly intensifying into a bomb cyclone as it tracks up the Eastern Seaboard.

A weather system may drive bitter cold into Florida, with an expert saying some areas could run 20-25 degrees below normal.