The East Coast is experiencing the early stages of what could be a whiplash-inducing stretch of winter weather.

One of the key factors driving the weather is an atmospheric river, which is a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas, said Schroeter, who's based in Gray, Maine.

The U.S. East Coast is due for a whiplash-inducing stretch of weather that will be rainy, windy and potentially dangerous, due in part to an atmospheric river and developing bomb cyclone. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and fierce winds to many areas from Tuesday night to Wednesday night,