A Winter Storm Watch issued by The National Weather Service (NWS) for Lincoln County in regard to a storm system forecast to impact the area beginning Saturday night remains in effect. But as the storm approaches, forecasters are having a hard time reckoning with the combination of variables that this early season event brings with it.
Ocean water is still relatively warm, adding to the potential for a stronger storm with heavier precipitation. Lincoln County sits right on the rain/snow line for the initial part of the storm, making snowfall and rainfall amounts hard to predict. The storm’s history has demonstrated a highly variable course – the NWS originally thought the event was going to track out to sea before it reached Lincoln County.
So the only thing that Lincoln County residents can rely on in the forecast is that there will be weather, and it will be wet, breezy, and unseasonably cold. It will most likely arrive in the evening hours of Saturday and continue overnight into the morning hours of Sunday.
And even now, the NWS is still advising that the storm track may change, leaving considerably less (or more) impact on Lincoln County.
“While 6 or more inches (of snowfall) is possible in portions of the watch area, even just 2 to 4 inches of heavy, wet snow will lead to downed branches or trees since leaves are still many trees. This could result in numerous power outages,” an NWS advisory warns.
Local broadcast forecasters are now calling for the heaviest snowfall to hit inland areas, with 5 to 10 inches of accumulation. Coastal areas are forecast to see 3 to 6 inches.
Any accumulated snowfall is not expected to affect the area for long. Ground temps are still above the freezing mark and a stretch of sunny weather with highs in the mid 40’s should follow the storm, according to forecasters.
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow this event and report any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
