Updated 1/29 at 11:10 a.m. — Winter Storm Watch upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning, in effect from Friday at 3 a.m. to Saturday at 10 a.m. Estimated accumulation 8 to 12 inches, according to the NWS.
Lincoln County residents were still digging out from the most recent nor’easter when the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the next event, due to arrive in the early morning hours of Friday and bring more snowfall to the area through Saturday morning.
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. The Friday system is a “clipper” that is sweeping out of the north, with very little moisture presently associated with it. Once it arrives, it may just slide right through, leaving only several inches of snowfall; or it may slow down long enough to generate more energy and moisture from the relatively warm ocean water. The second scenario would bring higher snowfall accumulations.
What track the storm will take is yet to be determined. The NWS bulletin calls for “6 inches or more” of accumulation, while local broadcast forecasters are calling for 4 to 8 inches.
Winds will also be a factor for this event, with sustained velocities out of the northeast at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 20.
Temps may also become a factor. Generally they are forecast to stay below freezing, but a short period during the evening hours 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 heavy power lines and tree branches.
The Winter Storm Watch is in effect from late Thursday evening through late Friday night.
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.
