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The US is braced for a “bomb cyclone” – a weather phenomenon which officials say will arrive during a cold snap that has already claimed at least 11 lives.

Forecasters say a severe pressure drop will lead to an explosive winter storm along the eastern US, and is already bringing snow to Florida.

The US is currently on its 10th day of frigid record-breaking low temperatures which began around Christmas.

But the predicted new storm has led meteorologists to deploy a new term.

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The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that “Arctic air mass will remain entrenched over the eastern two thirds of the country through the end of the week”.

“Very cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills expected,” the NWS added.

What is a ‘bomb cyclone’?

A “bomb cyclone” or “weather bomb” is an unofficial term for what is known as explosive cyclogenesis, according to BBC Weather.

This occurs when the central pressure of a low pressure system falls by 24 millibars in 24 hours and can result in violent winds developing around the system.

The winds can be strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage.

The Washington Post adds that the coming storm will “in many ways resemble a winter hurricane” which could be the eastern US’s most intense in decades.

It comes as the average temperature across the continental US hovered around 9.1F (-12.7C) on Tuesday morning, according to CBS News.

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Where is it expected to hit?

On Thursday and Friday, the major storm is expected to develop along the eastern seaboard of the USA, bringing strong winds, rain, sleet and snow.

The storm is forecast to undergo rapid cyclogenesis over the Atlantic Ocean, and current projections show areas north of New York as having the highest risk of seeing significant impacts from strong winds and heavy snow.

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Major north-eastern cities such as Boston are at risk of blizzards, and it is expected to cause disruption at air travel hubs with power outages also possible.

In the US South, freezing rain and sleet may reach as far down as Orlando, where agricultural officials say cold-sensitive crops such as citrus and strawberries are threatened.

Parts of Florida, including the northern city of Tallahassee, have already seen their first snow settling in decades.

Excited residents have been snapping photos of themselves playing in the snow, and school is cancelled in much of the state.

Is it cold everywhere?

No.

Several of Alaska’s northern and central towns experienced some of their hottest months of December on record.

On Tuesday, the Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage recorded a temperature of 48F (9C) – higher than almost anywhere in the Lower 48 states.

What about Canada?

Environment officials warned that a major winter story is expected to smash into the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on Thursday.

Officials predict that snow and high winds may cause worse power outages than those that affected 158,000 customers in Nova Scotia on Christmas Day.

Note: This story is auto-generated from BBC syndicated feed and has not been edited by AFRICA PRIME NEWS

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Thomas Monson, leader of the Mormon Church, has died at the age of 90, the church has announced.

Mr Monson died on Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah surrounded by his family, according to a church statement.

In 2008 he became the 16th president of the church, following the death of Gordon Hinckley.

Mr Monson is known for leading the church’s backing for a gay marriage ban in California in 2008.

He is likely to be succeeded by 93-year-old Russell Nelson, who is now the longest-serving member of the church’s governing body.

During Mr Monson’s leadership, the church’s members grew from 13 to over 16 million worldwide, and dozens of new temples were built, according to the church.

He also reduced the minimum age requirement for missionaries, which led to an increase in missionary numbers the church added.

For the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the religion is officially known, the president of the church is also a prophet who receives divine revelations.

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Among the faith’s followers is 2012 US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who paid tribute to Mr Monson.

In 2008, at Mr Monson’s urging, Mormons led a vigorous campaign in support of banning gay marriage in California – which backfired with protests and vandalism against the faith’s church temples across the US.

Members of the church worship Jesus Christ, but have substantial differences in belief to the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians.

Note: This story is auto-generated from BBC syndicated feed and has not been edited by AFRICA PRIME NEWS

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The mayor of New York City has announced plans to install 1,500 steel street barriers to prevent vehicle attacks.

Bill de Blasio said the protective barriers were part of a $50m (£37m) investment in security infrastructure.

The move comes after two vehicle attacks in 2017 that killed nine people in total.

The new permanent barriers will replace temporary concrete blocks that were put in place after the incidents.

“I want to tell you these are the most cowardly kind of attacks – when someone with a vehicle ploughs into a group of innocent pedestrians. It’s disgusting,” Mr Blasio said at a press conference in Times Square, near where one of the vehicle attacks took place.

“But we know there are some out there who mean to do us evil and we will protect against it.”

Last Halloween, a 29-year-old man drove his truck into people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring 11.

In May, another driver rammed his vehicle into the crowds on sidewalks in Times Square, killing a 18-year-old and injuring a further 20 people.

Temporary concrete blocks were installed in Times Square and Lower Manhattan in the last few months following the attacks in the city and others worldwide.

“That was necessary to immediately secure those areas in light on these new trends we’ve seen,” Mr Blasio said.

“But we knew we needed long-term solutions, we needed permanent barriers.”

Note: This story is auto-generated from BBC syndicated feed and has not been edited by AFRICA PRIME NEWS