Storm could dump more than a foot of snow in parts of NH

Apr. 2—The calendar may say April, but it will look like anything but spring across most of New Hampshire this week, as a nor'easter brings significant amounts of snow, wind and rain Wednesday into Thursday.

Much of the Granite State could feel the impacts of a long-duration storm featuring wet snow and a wintry mix from late Wednesday morning through the day Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, is calling for 1 to 3 inches of snow in the southern portion of the state, while some areas north of Concord could see 12-18 inches before the storm clears out in time for the weekend.

The heaviest precipitation is expected Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said, with sleet not out of the question in southern New Hampshire and coastal Maine.

Gusty to damaging winds are expected toward the coast and over coastal waters, with minor coastal flooding and splash-over possible.

The possibility of heavy snow has utilities preparing for possible power outages.

Eversource spokesman Wiliam Hinkle said this week's storm follows an ice storm last week and wind storm over the weekend that left trees and branches in some parts of the state susceptible to falling and causing damage to the electric system.

Eversource has secured hundreds of additional crews to restore power to customers, and crews have been conducting ground and aerial patrols to identify potential problem areas.

"With the trees further weakened by last week's destructive ice storm, we've been busy preparing over the last several days for this latest spring storm that is forecasted to bring winter weather to the Granite State," Eversource New Hampshire President of Electric Operations Doug Foley said in a statement.

"We performed post-storm patrols of our infrastructure after completing restoration for our customers last week, but now that we are in spring with vegetation beginning to bloom, the significant amounts of heavy, wet snow in the forecast can further weigh down the limbs and — along with the gusty winds — bring them down onto power lines and equipment, causing outages."

Foley said crews and equipment will be pre-positioned across the state to address outages.

Unitil Corporation also has been preparing for the storm, spokesman Alec O'Meara said. Although snow totals may be lower in coastal regions if mixed with rain, wind gusts may reach 55 mph near the Seacoast.

"In spring storms like this, only a few degrees warmer or colder in the upper atmosphere can make all the difference between whether we see wet, heavy snow, a more normal snow, or simply rain, and each of these outcomes can have very different effects on the system," O'Meara said in a statement. "Because of this uncertainty, we are monitoring this coming storm very closely due to its potential size and duration, with a high focus on how far northward rain mixing develops."

O'Meara said Unitil also secured additional third-party crews over the weekend in advance of the storm to restore power in case of outages.

New Hampshire Electric Co-op posted on social media that they "wish this could be an April Fool's joke, but unfortunately it is not."

"We are monitoring the winter storm heading our way mid-week," the post said. "The forecast calls for significant snowfall throughout our service area, so please make the appropriate preparations for power outages. Our crews are ready to work when the storm arrives and we will continue to provide updates as the event occurs."

The heaviest precipitation is expected to end Thursday night, though some light rain and snow showers could last into Friday.