A record-breaking bomb cyclone smashed into Alaska's sparsely populated Aleutian Islands on New Year's Eve, with waves towering over 50 feet and winds up to 109 mph. Atmospheric pressure at Shemya, one of Alaska's westernmost islands broke the previous record set in 1977, according to the National Weather Service. The rapid drop in pressure led to "bombogenesis," which can occur when a warm air mass smashes into a cold air mass, causing pressure to drop significantly in 24 hours, according to