Winter's 'most significant' snow storm to hit Seacoast NH, southern Maine: What to expect

Drivers could be met with slippery road conditions throughout Seacoast New Hampshire and York County in southern Maine as the region prepares for likely its highest snowfall total for the winter season to date Thursday and Friday.

The National Weather Service is projecting that towns and cities throughout the Portsmouth area in the Seacoast, Strafford County and southern Maine will see rain and snow on Thursday night before switching to purely snow on Friday.

The majority of local cities and towns are expected to see 2-6 inches of snow, according to Sarah Thunberg, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Gray, Maine.

“We are expecting the precipitation to start Thursday evening shortly after sunset, and it's going to be starting off as a bit more of a wet, wintry mix, a rain and snow combination,” Thunberg said. “Then it’s going to eventually, over the course of Thursday night into Friday morning, change to all snow by the morning.”

Among local communities, the Portsmouth area close to the coast is expected to see the least amount of snow with two inches, while Dover, Rochester and Somersworth could get about 4 inches of snow.

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Northern parts of Strafford County could see upwards of 6 to 8 inches of snow.

“Between the Back Bay and Milton we’re looking at upwards of four to six inches and that essentially increases as you go further north,” Thunberg said. “As you travel more up Route 16, it’s going to be increasing.”

The forecast for the majority of towns in southern Maine, including Kittery, Sanford, York and others, is calling for about 4-6 inches.

How the storm system is tracking to northern New England

Thunberg said the storm system is making its presence felt in midwestern states, such as Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, after originating and dumping snow in the western United States.

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The storm is tracking to move along the Ohio River Valley and eventually hit New England, though the center will be located over the Gulf of Maine once it arrives in the region, according to forecasters.

“Strafford County and Rockingham County have been very warm in the last snowstorms that we’ve gotten, so they’ve kind of ended up being mostly rain (in those areas),” Thunberg said. “It’s looking like this will be the most significant snowstorm of that area for the season so far.”

What to expect on roads and at beaches

Roads will likely be the worst for commuters traveling on Friday morning following the wintry mix expected to hit the region the previous evening, said Thunberg. Contrary to recent storms that occurred throughout the Seacoast and southern Maine, coastal flooding is not anticipated to be an issue.

“We are not expecting high astronomical tides with this storm, they will be fairly low,” Thunberg said.

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Carbon monoxide detection reminder issued

A message from Unitil and the New Hampshire fire marshal’s office ahead of the storm urged residents to make certain their carbon monoxide detection alarms are up to date and working this winter.

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases in the winter when temperatures plummet and heating units are used more, according to Unitil.

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“According to New Hampshire Deputy Fire Marshal Stacey Dubois, fire departments across the state respond to an average of 2,500 calls a year related to carbon monoxide, with heating systems being the second leading cause of home fires in the state,” the company wrote.

Last year, Unitil, which serves all of New England, responded to 78 carbon monoxide-related calls in the company’s service territory. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can appear to be flu-like and include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What to expect during Thursday snow storm in Seacoast NH, Maine