Nor'easter Coming to NH on Thursday: Alert

The National Weather Service issued a “hazardous weather outlook” alert this morning warning New Hampshire residents to prepare for “a significant coastal storm” that could impact the region beginning on Thursday and running through Friday. The alert was issued at just past 4 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2016.

The alert stated, “While the details of this storm remain uncertain, there is the potential for significant snow accumulations and strong winds.”

AccuWeather.com, however, is not being so cautious, suggesting that the storm, which is “strengthening,” could bring up to a foot of snow to some parts of New England.

“From northwestern Connecticut to central and western Massachusetts, much of Vermont, interior New Hampshire and western and northern Maine, all or mostly snow will fall with the potential for 6 inches or more of snow,” according to AccuWeather.com.

The storm is expected to hit sometimes on Thursday night with winds increasing during the evening and into Friday. The exact timeline for the storm is not known but it is expected to dissipate by Friday evening. Forecasters are warning of winds that could down tree limbs and cause sporadic power outages as well as delayed flights along the Northeast coorridor.

“The combination of increasing winds and dry, powdery snow can lead to blizzard conditions in part of northern New England,” AccuWeather.com noted.

The latest forecast maps show Hillsborough County and Merrimack County receiving between 6 and 12 inches of snow. Coastal Rockingham County will get the lightest amount – from 1 to 3 inches – while inland Rockingham County is in the 3 to 6 range, and possibly more in spots. The North Country could get anywhere between 6 and 18 inches of snow.

Friday morning's commute is expected to be slippery, forecasters noted.

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.

Graphic courtesy of AccuWeather.com.