‘Near Blizzard’ Storm Warning Issued for New Hampshire

GRAY, ME — The National Weather Service issued an urgent winter storm warning this morning with more details concerning a mid-March Nor’easter that has been predicted for the last week or so. The alert was issued at just before 9:30 a.m. on March 13, 2017.

A strong low pressure system is tracking up the coastline and is expected to spread heavy snow across the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, forecasters predicted.

“Snow will begin Tuesday morning in southern New Hampshire and spread northwards into western Maine by noon,” the alert noted. “Snow will become heavy Tuesday afternoon with snowfall rates of 1-3” per hour possible and near blizzard conditions along the coast. The storm will come to an end overnight into early Wednesday morning.”

The alert covers all of the state of New Hampshire. The warning is in effect from 7 a.m. tomorrow until 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

The latest NWS snow accumulation predictions call for anywhere from 12 to 18 inches across the state although AccuWeather.com is predicting slightly higher snowfall totals – up to 24 inches around New Hampshire.

"In some locations in Pennsylvania, New York state and New England, snowfall from this storm could be the biggest March snowstorm since that of the 1993 March blizzard," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams noted.

Expect widespread travel disruptions due to the storm as well as possible power outages since wind gusts are expected to reach 60 mph during the storm.

Forecasters also warned that the region should brace itself for post-storm frigid cold temperatures and biting winds.

The latest weather conditions can be found on the front page of every Patch.com site in the United States including the 12 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites. Local, four-day weather reports for New Hampshire are posted on Sundays and Thursdays; alerts are posted when needed.

Graphics courtesy of AccuWeather.com and the National Weather Service.