Updated 1/25 at 10:57 p.m. – The National Weather Service has upgraded the weather alert to a Blizzard Warning, which is in effect from 10 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Wednesday. “Snow will spread into the area… And will likely be heavy at times during the day Tuesday… Winds will be strong on and near the coast… Producing blizzard conditions,” according to the NWS.
Forecasters are in agreement that a major storm will plow through Lincoln County beginning late Monday night and continuing into Tuesday night, bringing the possibility of heavy snowfall, high winds and blizzard conditions.
Some elements of the storm track are still uncertain, so forecasters are calling for anywhere between 12 to 24 inches of accumulated snowfall. On the positive side, temps are forecast to stay well below freezing, greatly reducing any possibility of heavy, wet snowflakes.
Winds are also forecast to be factor in this event, blowing out of the north at sustained velocities of 20 to 30 mph and gusting to 50 mph, according to the NWS. The highest winds are forecast for coastal areas, which also brings the highest possibility for periods of “near blizzard or whiteout conditions” for those areas, according to the NWS.
This combination of elements has the potential to lead to power outages.
Astronomically high tides on Tuesday, ranging between 9 and 10 feet depending on the location in Lincoln County, may be pushed higher because of the strong winds and storm surge, bringing the possibility of coastal splash over, flooding and erosion. Those tides are expected to affect locations in Lincoln County first around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning and again at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening. (Note: A Coastal Flood Watch was issued Saturday at 3:49 p.m.)
After the Tuesday storm moves out, forecasters are already watching another period of unsettled weather due to arrive in Lincoln County for Friday and Saturday.
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.
