A storm expected to visit Lincoln County beginning in the morning hours of Friday has been a tough one as far as forecasters are concerned. It’s a fast moving clipper from the Canadian side of the border that will either breeze through, leaving a minimal amount of snowfall accumulation; or slow down a bit to suck up energy and moisture from the Gulf Stream, making for significantly more snowfall. There’s also a possibility that temps may slide above freezing in the afternoon hours, bringing on the chance of sleet or freezing rain. Either way, Friday will be a day of unsettled weather, with snowfall and blustery winds.
Forecasters are in agreement that the Friday storm will be much smaller than the Tuesday nor’easter that left 25 inches of accumulation in some Lincoln County towns.
What track the storm will take is yet to be determined. The NWS bulletin calls for “9 to 14 inches” of accumulation.
Winds will also be a factor for this event, with sustained velocities out of the northeast at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
Temps may also become a factor. Generally they are forecast to stay below freezing, but a short period during the evening hours on Friday may see temps slide up above the freeze mark, making for the possibility of sleet or freezing rain. This variation in temps is also expected to create conditions conducive to the heavy, wet snowfall that makes for rough shoveling and weighs down power lines and tree branches.
The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 3 a.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the NWS.
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this event and post any additional information here as soon as it is obtained.
