A severe blizzard has impacted the Northeast, characterized by record-breaking snowfall and an unusual occurrence of thundersnow. Fueled by a stretched polar vortex, the storm drew ultra-cold Arctic air southward, colliding with warmer ocean air to create a significant temperature contrast. This led to rapid intensification, classifying the storm as a 'bomb cyclone' with a pressure drop of 39 millibars in just 24 hours. Thundersnow, featuring lightning and thunder amidst heavy snowfall, was reported in areas like Plymouth, Massachusetts, adding to the storm's intensity.