The National Weather Service has upgraded a Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning in advance of a weather system forecast to bring snowfall to Lincoln County beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing into the night. The “warning” status indicates that a significant winter storm is either expected or occurring.
The track of this storm has been a tough one for forecasters to get a handle on. Earlier forecasts had the storm tracking out to sea, but current forecasts indicate the storm track moving closer to shore. Presently forecasters are calling for the storm to have the most impact on coastal areas. However, the NWS advisory on Friday morning still noted that, “The storm track is still uncertain. A track further northwest would bring heavy snow further inland. A track further southeast would bring less snow.”
The still uncertain track is particularly noteworthy in light of the storm’s strength. Two low fronts are forecast to merge off the Atlantic coast as the weather front chugs toward Maine, making for a powerful ocean storm with barometric pressure forecast to fall as low as 29.04 inches during the event, only a short measurement above the 28.94 inches inherent with a category1 hurricane.
While the storm’s center should stay offshore, the precipitation bands it generates west of that center will bring the type of heavy, wet snowfall most hated by motorists, power line workers, and residents who have to shovel walkways.
The storm’s greatest impact is also forecast to be in the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday, when many travelers are still on the roads. Lincoln County motorists may want to be “tucked in” safe at home by noon on Saturday to avoid hazardous conditions and leave the roadways clear for emergency vehicles and snowplows. Sunday morning is presently forecast for clear skies.
The present snowfall total is forecast at “4 to 8 inches” by the NWS. Light snowfall is forecast to begin in the morning hours of Saturday and then intensify, tapering off in the overnight hours.
Temps are forecast to be above freezing when the event begins, increasing the chances of mixed precipitation in the mid-day hours.
Winds are forecast to blow in from the northeast at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph, according to the NWS.
The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8 a.m. Saturday morning to midnight Saturday, according to the NWS.
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.
