NWS Gray has issued a Winter Storm Watch for all of NH which is in effect from Thursday morning through Friday morning. A strong coastal storm likely to impact NH Thursday and Thursday night. Low pressure will develop rapidly south of New England on Thursday and move northeastward into the gulf of Maine Thursday night while explosively deepening. The result will likely be heavy snow across the interior and a wintry mix as well as some heavy snow on the coastal plain and southeastern NH. Winds will become quite gusty as well. The combination of wind and potentially wet snow may cause power outages. The snow will come to an end from South to North late Thursday night and Friday morning. The exact storm track is not yet known. A more westerly low pressure track would mean more rain and mixed precipitation further inland. A more easterly track would mean heavier snows for the coast. As more information becomes available, we will send it out.
• HAZARD TYPES
o Strafford, Rockingham, Eastern Hillsborough Counties – Heavy Snow, potentially with a period of heavy rain or mixed precipitation
o All other counties – Heavy Snow.
• ACCUMULATIONS
o Strafford, Rockingham, Eastern Hillsborough Counties – 6 or more inches possible.
o All other counties – 6 or more inches likely, some areas will likely see a foot or more.
• TIMING
o All Counties - The snow or mixed precipitation will begin to fall between late morning and midafternoon Thursday. The precipitation is expected to be heavy at times Thursday night. It will end from South to north, late Thursday night into Friday morning.
• IMPACTS
o Strafford, Rockingham, Eastern Hillsborough Counties – The potential or heavy snow exists along with a period of rain or mixed precipitation. This will make travel difficult at best late Thursday and Thursday night in addition the snow has potential to be heavy and wet – especially if rain falls into it and adds additional weight on branches and power lines. Therefore power outages are a possibility, especially when combined with gusty winds.
o All other counties – Travel will become difficult at best by late in the day Thursday and Thursday night. Some power outages will be possible where temperatures linger around the freezing mark due to a potential period of wet snow..
• WINDS
o Strafford, Rockingham, Eastern Hillsborough Counties – East 15 to 25mph with gusts up to 40mph
o All other counties – Northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30mph
• TEMPERATURES
o Strafford, Rockingham, Eastern Hillsborough Counties – between 30-35 Thursday night.
o All other counties – in the mid 20s to Lower 30s.
• VISIBILITIES
o All Counties – ¼ mile or less at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
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