New Hampshire Braces for Weekend Winter Storm: Snow, Mix, Rain, and Ice Expected

Multi-Day Event: Precipitation arrives late Friday night and continues intermittently through Saturday, Sunday, and Monday night.

Varied Precipitation: Expect heavy snow in northern NH, a wintry mix (sleet/freezing rain) in central areas, and primarily rain along the southern border and Seacoast.

Significant Accumulations: Northern areas could see 3-6+ inches of wet snow (locally higher amounts possible in Coos County), while central and southern regions face potential ice accumulations up to a quarter-inch and sleet up to half an inch.

Major Impacts: Dangerous travel conditions expected Saturday and Sunday due to snow and ice, especially on bridges and overpasses. Potential for scattered power outages due to ice accumulation, particularly Sunday.

Timing: Heaviest snow expected Friday night/Saturday morning. Ice threat potentially highest on Sunday. Conditions improve Tuesday.

Why this matters: This storm poses risks to travel safety and potential disruption to daily life due to power outages. Staying informed and prepared is crucial. Winter Storm Watches are active for many central and northern counties.

Friday Night/Saturday Morning: Precipitation begins as snow across the northern half of the state, potentially heavy at times (1-2 inches per hour possible in Coos County early Saturday). Southern NH will see a mix of rain, sleet, and freezing rain near the freezing mark. This period likely presents the highest travel impacts state-wide.

Saturday Afternoon/Evening: Snow may transition to a wintry mix even in the north as slightly milder air attempts to push in. Precipitation intensity might lessen temporarily Saturday night. Roads remain hazardous north and west of Concord.

Sunday: After a possible lull, precipitation intensity increases again. Northern and central NH, along with the northern Monadnock region, can expect more sleet and freezing rain. Areas from Concord south and east will likely see mostly rain as temperatures climb slightly above freezing. The risk of accumulating ice increases, raising concerns for slippery travel and power outages.

Monday: The system lingers, bringing periods of rain to most areas with temperatures in the 40s and 50s before finally exiting Monday night.

Tuesday: Sunshine and drier conditions return.

Travel: Avoid unnecessary travel, especially Saturday and Sunday morning. If you must drive, slow down, increase following distance, clear your vehicle completely of snow/ice, and check road conditions before leaving (NH 511 is a useful resource, link opens in new tab). Be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses. *Ensure links open in a new tab: Note that Markdown alone doesn't enforce `target="_blank"`. This needs to be handled by the platform rendering the Markdown.*

Power Outages: Prepare for potential outages by charging devices, having flashlights with extra batteries, ensuring adequate non-perishable food and water, and checking generators if you have one. Report outages to your utility provider.

Stay Informed: Monitor updates from the NWS and local news outlets like WMUR. Download weather apps with push notifications.

Q: How much snow will I get?

A: Expect 3-6+ inches in the White Mountains and Great North Woods, potentially more locally. Central NH could see several inches before changing to mix/ice. Southern NH (away from the immediate coast/border) might see 1-2 inches initially, but more impact from ice/sleet/rain. The Seacoast and border areas will see mostly rain.

Q: Is significant icing expected?

A: Yes, particularly Sunday in central and southern areas (excluding the coast). Accumulations up to a quarter-inch are possible, leading to very slippery conditions and potential power line issues.

Q: When is the worst time to travel?

A: Saturday morning is expected to have the highest travel impacts due to snow and mix. However, Sunday could also be very hazardous due to freezing rain and ice accumulation. Travel is discouraged throughout the weekend if possible.

Q: Will the partial solar eclipse on Saturday be visible?

A: Unlikely. Heavy cloud cover and precipitation are expected throughout the weekend, obscuring the view.

Plan for significant travel disruptions across New Hampshire from Friday night through Monday.

Northern NH faces heavy, wet snow; Central NH deals with snow, sleet, and significant freezing rain potential; Southern NH gets a mix changing to mostly rain, but ice is still a concern inland.

Prepare for potential power outages, especially Sunday, due to ice accumulation.

Stay updated with the latest forecasts from reliable sources like the NWS and WMUR Storm Watch 9.

Prioritize safety: delay travel if possible, and ensure you have emergency supplies.

Source 1: Snow, mix, rain this weekend in New Hampshire; ice accumulation possible - WMUR

Source 2: National Weather Service (NWS) Gray, Maine Forecasts