A winter storm watch originally issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon has developed into a “two for one” forecast, now warning of two storms in the bulletin issued on Wednesday. The first storm is forecast to arrive Wednesday night as a “convergence system” and deliver small but intense bands of snowfall to the area, according to the NWS. The second storm will develop Thursday and bring a wider area of snowfall through early Friday morning, according to the NWS. Total accumulation for both events is forecast at 8 to 12 inches, but the NWS admits there are still variables in the forecast.
In regard to the Wednesday night convergence event, where two areas of low pressure create a flow of weather between them, the NWS bulletin notes: “Significant snowfall is likely with this feature. However, it will also be localized and very difficult to pinpoint at this time. Even minor shifts of 10 to 20 miles could mean large differences in snowfall from town to town.”
Should the area of convergence pass through Lincoln County, the NWS warns that, “Localized (snowfall) amounts in excess of a foot are possible, with rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour at times.”
One of the two systems from the convergence event is then forecast to redevelop in the Gulf of Maine on Thursday, bringing more evenly distributed snowfall to the area during the day and into the overnight hours, leaving “6 or more inches” of accumulation, according to the NWS.
Because both of these events will deliver snowfall generated over the ocean, and because high temps are starting to edge toward the freeze line, forecasters are warning this snowfall should be of the heavy, wet variety. This snow type, combined with winds from the north gusting to 25 mph, could mean power outages in some areas.
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.
