Winter Storm Warning

[kevinmac]

Issued at: 11:47 AM EST 11/25/08, expires at: 3:00 PM EST 11/25/08

Winter storm warning in effect until 3 pm est this afternoon.
The NWS in gray has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow, which is in effect until 3 pm est this afternoon.
Most of the precipitation will fall in the form of snow in the mountains and foothills of Maine, as well as the northern half of New Hampshire, where a storm total of 6 to 10 inches are expected. Elevations above 2000 feet will see the highest accumulations, while less will fall in some valley locations.
A winter weather advisory means that snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and use caution while driving.

 

[DrewKnight]

Horrible driving conditions Tuesday morning 11/25

For what it's worth -- there was about 3-4" of fresh, wet snow at 1500 feet in Waterville Valley at 6am, and WV ski resort is reporting 5"+ at 11am. The rain-snow line has been boiling around Campton-Thornton all morning.

Route 49 and Route 93 Southbound were in TERRIBLE shape as far south as Meredith between 6am and 7am this morning. There literally had been no treating or plowing as we came south this AM. If you are planning on traveling in the area, you might call ahead and see if conditions have improved since.

 

[gaiagirl]

I woke up to a good 5 to 6 inches of heavy wet snow. By midday it began to pour. I'm feeling whiny already and Winter has not even begun!

I drove south this morning to teach in Tamworth, where the conditions were the same as here in Albany. Lots of cars off the road on my drive and a coworker was in an accident on his drive up Rte. 25 just over the Maine border. The roads are terrible and getting worse with all the added moisture.

Apparently just to the south in Ossipee there hasn't been any snow. Wish I could say the same for my driveway.

 

[Mattl]

It was a nasty storm that caught many people off guard. They underforecast the snow for the mountains for what was supposed to be 2-4 inches for areas like Jackson NH, recieved over a foot. The jackpot outside the Whites will be the Randolf area I think, or in that area with about 12-16 inches. The Whites are getting really hit hard as well, looks like the heaviest snow will be in the Carters and Mount Washington area with totals that look to be around 15-20 inches, 8-15 for the rest of the Whites. Get the snowshoes out!

-Mattl

 

[Waumbek]

Issued at: 11:47 AM EST 11/25/08, expires at: 3:00 PM EST 11/25/08
Most of the precipitation will fall in the form of snow in the mountains and foothills of Maine, as well as the northern half of New Hampshire, where a storm total of 6 to 10 inches are expected. Elevations above 2000 feet will see the highest accumulations, while less will fall in some valley locations.

Nope, not yet. There was an inch or so of snow on the ground at daylight, then heavy rain after that which has washed away all ground snow at 1200' in Franconia. High wind this morning knocked out the power, though, and it's still pouring. Cannon has had a trace of new snow in the past 24 hours. This one is a fizzle so far.

 

[Mattl]

I suspect Cannon did not really report today, since Lonesome reported decent snow this morning, and the fact that they aren't open yet. I know Cannon got more then a trace..I would say at least 12 inches at the top. -Mattl

 

[MichaelJ]

The snow tires go on Friday!

 

[Waumbek]

I suspect Cannon did not really report today, since Lonesome reported decent snow this morning, and the fact that they aren't open yet. I know Cannon got more then a trace..I would say at least 12 inches at the top. -Mattl

Right you are, Matt. I just checked that online report of "trace," and it's dated yesterday at 10 a.m. It seems odd to ask the internet what's going on in my backyard--I can see the tram station from home--but it's been socked in all day. There's no snow left down here now. If anything, we'll be flooding soon.

 

[Quietman]

FYI: Wildcat is reporting 12" at the base and 18" at 3,000 ft.

 

[Andrew]

It's true. Here in Gorham around 1300' I had a foot by 2pm yesterday. It turned over to rain around 2:30 pm and rained really hard into late evening with a max temp of ~35. This fully waterlogged the snow which is freezing up at a depth of ~3.5".

 

[Mattl]

The rain that fell yesterday fell on either snow covered, or frozen ground so it sat on top or ran off. That rain is now frozen and is making for nasty ice conditions all over northern New England. In the Whites, heavy snow, 8-20 inches fell, with freezing rain, sleet, then rain ontop of it, there was a total of 2-4 inches of melted precip that went in, and is now completed frozen solid. What this means? We have what looks like a perminent snow cover in most of the northern Whites of 2-20 inches on the ground depending on elevation, as well as very bad ice. Be very careful hiking this holiday season. Who is ever lives in Randolf, NH looks like it was the hardest hit area. They had 17 inches of wet snow, followed by 1.5 inches of rain that is now frozen in it. That has to be bad..Mattl

update: Tuckerman is reporting 20.5 inches of snow from this which is frozen solid. Zealand and Carters are reporting a storm total of about 13-14 inches. The further west you go, the less there was, only 6 inches for Lonesome.

 

[Waumbek]

Depending on your point of view, Franconia was spared or cheated in this storm. At 1200', rain washed away all the snow. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Cannon reported only 2-4" new snow, although the rain continued here until at least midnight so there was certainly more than that from this storm.

In any event, Thursday looks like a decent travel day. In the Notch yesterday, it was horrible.

 

[giggy]

The rain/frozen snow is great news. This makes ice conditions for next weekend - potentially better. hopefully it will harden things up as it re-freezes.....

rain is good for snow and ice.....

hoping to never have to pull out the snowshoes this winter!!!

 

[MichaelJ]

hoping to never have to pull out the snowshoes this winter!!!

Dream on, Gig. The combined power of the dreams of all us tree skiers will force many a powder dump this winter.

 

[DrewKnight]

At 1500 feet in Waterville Valley, the 4-6" of snow that accumulated through early afternoon were "consolidated" to a skim (scum?) of crystalline snow with tufts of grass showing through. At 8am, the local roads were lightly glazed with black ice, making for interesting driving, with the front wheels alternately slipping and grabbing and the car switching in and out of traction control.

Looking up at Tecumseh, it appears that a lot more snow stayed, but there are bare patches at 2500 feet, too. For the skiers among us -- the guns were back on early this AM, so on-piste conditions should continue to improve for the holiday weekend.

 

[forestgnome]

Depending on your point of view, Franconia was spared or cheated in this storm. At 1200', rain washed away all the snow

...Spared!!!... I'll be looking for bare ground now that some areas have a covering. All trailheads on the Kancamagus now have crusty snow.

happy trails

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

We were...

hoping for a "winter wonderland" hike this weekend. From the sound of things this migjht not happen. Is there any snow left on the trees? If we stay further east will we have a better chance? From what I'm gathering here probably not snowshoes? Would you suggest Microspikes? or crampons? We weren't going to head above 4k, but from the sounds of things we might have to before we find lots of snow? Anyone? Thanks!

KDT

 

[sardog1]

Ossipee Mountains have about 5-6 inches on the ground as of today. No, it wasn't all washed away. There's an almost-walkable crust that is not too troublesome, only slightly annoying. Southern limit of the snow cover looked to be about the southern edge of the Ossipees. EDIT: The trees are bare of snow.

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Thanks!

Will probably head further north and east, but we'll see.

KDT

 

[bobandgeri]

We hike Crawford Mountain this morning - snow the entire way - 2 feet deep in areas. In the sun it was like mashed potatoes - in the shade frozen. Great hike and views. Now time for a nap and then a big feast.