The featured plot presents the 24 hour difference in observed altimeter (atmospheric pressure) for the upper mid west. Values lower than 24 mb (bombogenesis criteria is 24+ mb drop in 24 hours) are highlighted. If you measure storm strength by the minimum pressure observed, this storm may go down as the most powerful storm on record in October and the strongest storm in 70 years. The altimeter reading at Des Moines 28.94 inches around 1 AM this morning. A value below 29 has only happened four times since 1977 for Des Moines.

Update: It was pointed out that bombogenesis refers to the center of the low pressure system dropping at the 24mb/24hr rate, looking at individual station data is not sufficient.

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Tags:   bombogenesis