The National Weather Service (NWS) continues to change the forecast for a weather front that is expected to arrive in Lincoln County Weds. evening.
As of 3:35 p.m. on Weds., the NWS upgraded a Winter Weather Advisory to a Winter Storm Warning. Earlier on Weds the NWS had downgraded a Winter Storm Watch issued Tues. to a Winter Weather Advisory issued Weds. morning.
The reason for all this indecision? A classic two-part weather system will be moving through the area while temps hold steady in the upper 20’s and mid 30’s, and a wind from the east carrying warmer air from the ocean will continue through the duration of the event.
The ocean breeze is forecast to keep temps above freezing in the lower levels of the atmosphere and up to 25 miles inland, according to forecasts. So, while freezing temps aloft will cause precipitation to fall initially as snow, those snowflakes will reach the ground in some melted or partially melted form – such as rain or sleet.
Historically, the line of division for this type of event in Lincoln County runs along Rt. 1, with areas north of the highway receiving more snow and areas south of the line receiving more rain. All indications are that this event will follow that pattern, according to forecasts
The storm is expected to dump the heaviest snowfall from late Weds. night through early Thurs. morning, then the precipitation may change over to rain or sleet just in time for the morning commute, according to forecasts.
Scattered precipitation in various forms is then expected to linger into Thurs. afternoon, according to the NWS. Presently the forecast snowfall accumulation is at 3-6 inches for the Lincoln County area, according to the NWS.
The Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Weds. through 1 p.m. Thurs, according to the NWS.
Originally, over 6 inches of accumulation were in the forecast, with the Winter Storm Watch lasting through late Thurs. night.
The Lincoln County News website will continue to follow the progress of this storm and post any additional developments here as soon as they become available.
