Updated at 6 p.m. Dec. 13.
The latest bulletin from the National Weather Service has upgraded their alert for the first major snowstorm of the season to a Winter Storm Warning, meaning that “severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring.” The NWS snowfall accumulation estimate has been upgraded to 10 to 14 inches and gusty winds to 40 mph have also been added to the Warning.
The possibility of increased snowfall and higher winds means that power outages may now be a possibility during this event, which is forecast to move into Lincoln County Saturday night and continue through Sunday afternoon. The heaviest snowfall should arrive on Sunday morning, according to forecasts.
Another increased possibility according to the latest NWS bulletin is that of mixed precipitation along the immediate coastline, especially the Lincoln County peninsulas, on Sunday afternoon.
Visibility may also be less than one quarter mile at times, according to the NWS.
“Accumulating snow and gusty winds will produce slick roads and sharply reduced visibilities,” according to the NWS which also recommends that motorists only travel in an emergency.
During snowstorms in past seasons the effect of motorists staying off the road allows emergency crews to focus their efforts on public safety and power restoration, and for snowplows to clear the roads more efficiently.
Some cancellations are already being reported for Sunday and more are expected. The Lincoln County News has an arrangement with WCSH Channel 6 that allows readers to click on a tile located right on thelincolncountynewsonline.com homepage and go directly to the WCSH cancellations page.
The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this event and post any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
