Snowfall began over much of Lincoln County in late morning hours of Sun. as a Nor’easter storm moved into the area for an overnight visit.
At 12:47 p.m. the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that snowfall totals in Bristol were already at the 4-inch mark – well on the way to a total of up to 20 inches now forecast by the NWS in their latest advisory. The Bristol total was the highest in the state at the time of the NWS report.
The intensity of the storm is forecast to increase after dark, with the possibility of snowfall rates exceeding 1-inch per hour, according to forecasters.
Lincoln County is under a Winter Storm Warning until 7 a.m. on Mon., and there is a possibility storm surge may cause some flooding during this evening’s high tide, according to the NWS.
The NWS warning calls for heavy snow with a total of 10-16 inches of new snow accumulation on Sun night. High winds with a sustained velocity of 20-30 mph from the east-northeast are forecast to accompany the Sun. storm, blowing the fresh snowfall about and reducing visibility, according to the NWS.
The storm is courtesy of two low fronts that tracked in from the west, one with plenty of moisture from the south and the other with plenty of cold air from the north. The southern low arrived last night – just in time to set up off the mid-Atlantic coast and begin tracking north.
The two fronts are now working together to create one humdinger of a weather system – with one low front over the Great Lakes contributing chill Arctic air and another low front near the Gulf of Maine feeding off a line of moisture that stretches all the way down the Atlantic, over the north Florida Peninsula, and into the Gulf of Mexico.
The NWS recommends that any travel during the snow storm should be restricted to emergencies, and that motorists venturing into the weather should carry an emergency supply of blankets, water, food and a flashlight. Cell phone users should check to ensure that their phone is fully charged before traveling.
The Lincoln County News website will continue to monitor the progress of these storms and post any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
