NH Blizzard Update: Up to 2 Feet; Wind Gusts Will Create Visibility Problems

GRAY, ME — The National Weather Service has extended its hazardous weather outlook and winter storm watch warnings through Monday at 7 p.m., according to alerts online. Originally, forecasters were expecting this weekend’s blizzard to end around noontime on Monday. The alerts were issued at 3:01 and 11:18 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2017.

“A strong low pressure system will develop in the Gulf of Maine by later tonight,” the warning watch alert stated. “Snow will begin this afternoon and become heavy overnight. Snowfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour at times are expected to lead to very hazardous travel conditions.”

Winds will increase through the overnight resulting in blizzard or near-blizzard conditions, according to forecasters.

“With increasing winds late tonight and Monday, power outages may occur,” the NWS stated. “If blizzard conditions appear imminent for late tonight and Monday, a subsequent blizzard warning may be issued for portions of the coastal plain where winds will be highest.

The warning remains in place until 7 p.m. on Monday.

At just before noon, snow had already started in Concord, about two hours behind what forecasters had originally predicted.

The alerts warned of “treacherous travel” and “low visibilities”; winds will be out of the Northeast at 10 to 20 mph with gusts of up to 40 mph.

A number of communities have already issued parking bans in preparation for the storm, according to alerts online.

Forecasters are still predicting as much as two feet of snow in parts of the state with other forecasters at AccuWeather.com suggesting the storm will put the region at a standstill.

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.