Nor'easter Could Bring 18 Inches Of Snow To Parts Of NH: Update

GRAY, ME — The National Weather Service has issued a number of winter weather warnings for New Hampshire concerning a nor'easter heading to the state Monday that could deliver up to 18 inches of snow to parts of the state.

On Sunday, forecasters issued hazard weather outlook, winter storm warning, and coastal flood watch alerts between 3:30 and 4 p.m. The winter storm warning is expected to run from 3 p.m. on Monday to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The flood watch will run from 11 a.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Wednesday on the Seacoast.

"An area of low pressure will travel north along the East Coast tomorrow before moving into the Gulf of Maine late Tuesday," the NWS stated. "Significant snow accumulation is likely. In addition, gusty northeasterly winds may result in blowing and drifting snow at times."

The storm alert is for the entire state.

Snowfall totals are expected to be in the 6-to-18-inch range with winds gusting as high as 40 mph. Snowfall is expected to be 1 to 2 inches per hour Monday night.

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"Travel will be very difficult due to low visibility and snow-covered roads," the alert stated. "The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511."

New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation also issued an alert on Sunday warning commuters about the storm and the difficult driving conditions expected.

"As with every snowstorm, be prepared," Jennifer Harper, the New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director, said. "Take time now to prepare your family. Being prepared means knowing what to do and having the things you need to stay safe. Learn more about emergency preparedness at ReadyNH.gov."

Victoria Sheehan, the commissioner of the NH DOT, said the state would be recommending that only essential travelers be on the roads.

"Heavy snowfall rates mean poor visibility," she said. "If you have the ability to telework or engage in remote school opportunities, we recommend that you do so. If you must travel, please slow down and drive for the conditions, leaving plenty of space between your car and others, as well as plenty of time to reach your destination. As always, please don’t crowd the plow. We will be doing our best to clear roadways and keep NH moving."

Concord and the capital region, Bedford, and Londonderry should expect between 8 and 12 inches while Amherst, Milford, Merrimack, Nashua, Salem, and Windham could get between 12 to 18 inches. Exeter, Hampton, North Hampton, and Portsmouth are expected to be in the 12-to-18-inch range, too.

Forecasters said there was a 57 percent Concord would receive more than 8 inches of snow while Nashua was put at 74 percent and Portsmouth had a 53 percent chance.

Forecasters called the coastal flooding watch to be "minor" but "possible in vulnerable low-lying coastal areas." But, "the potential exists for moderate wave impacts to include significant splash-over, in addition to dune and beach erosion." Some parts of Seacoast communities could be "inundated" with water due to the storm surges.

"If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed," the watch alert stated. "Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property."

Wave heights will reach their peaks in Hampton Harbor around 2 a.m. on Tuesday and at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Eversource, the state's largest utility, issued an alert Sunday stating it had more than 400 line, tree, and service workers "pre-positioned around the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by this storm." Out-of-state crews were being brought in to assist with restoring power, too, and customer care representatives were ready to take calls if needed, the alert said.

"We’ve been monitoring this storm for days, and we’re taking all necessary steps to ensure that we’re ready to restore any power outages as quickly and safely as possible," Joe Purington, the president of the company, said. "With forecasts calling for significant amounts of snow and high winds, travel conditions may be difficult for the hundreds of line, tree and service workers positioned across the state. We also remind customers that restorations may take longer as we ensure the safety of our employees and customers while continuing to work under the challenging conditions related to the pandemic."

Unitil also sent out an alert stating it had secured third-party crews to assist with the storm.

The company also asked homeowners to remove snow and ice "carefully from meters or outdoor appliance vents with a broom and not a shovel — since they can damage meters. Also, avoid shoveling or plowing snow up against or covering meters and pipes.

"Remove icicles from overhead eaves and gutters to assure dripping water does not freeze the meter or vent pipe," the alert said. "Contact a qualified roofing vendor if you cannot reach icicles yourself. Do not kick your gas meter in an attempt to break ice off, as this too can cause damage."

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 Wednesdays or Thursdays. Alerts are published when needed.