**blizzard conditions likely this afternoon and evening**
The snowstorm has now begun over most of northern New England and snow will become
heavy this afternoon and evening. Wind will become strong out of the northeast,
shifting to north and then west this evening with gusts of 50 mph possible. It
will blow the powdery snow into large drifts and reduce visibility to zero at
times. New Hampshire and adjacent Maine will get at least a foot of snow, except
at the Massachusetts border where amounts will be 8-12 inches. Many areas af NH
and ME will get 16 inches, and a few areas will get 20 inches.
The National Weather Service in Gray Maine is advising that travel this afternoon
be reserved for emergencies only. If you must travel, be prepared to survive inside
your car for several hours in case you are stranded. Expect long delays, as blowing
snow will limit the effectiveness of plowing operations. Temperatures are in the
single numbers and teens across the state, which is limiting the effectiveness of
road salt.
There are still 20,000 NH households without power from the ice storm last week,
and more outages are possible this afternoon and evening as strong winds associated
with this storm affect trees already weakened by the ice.
There may be some sleet mixed in with the snow around Portsmouth this afternoon
for a short time, but this will quickly change back to snow. This storm will be
"bombing out" or experiencing rapid intensification as it passes just a few miles
off the New England coast this evening.
Thunderstorms are possible within the snow. Thundersnow is known for being very
intense... a winter version of what you would expect from a summer thunderstorm...
and can drop several inches of snow in just minutes during which visibility is
just a few feet.
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