Heavy rain and melting snow could cause minor flooding in New Hampshire on Wednesday

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

PLYMOUTH – Following a swift storm that brought up to 5 inches of snow to the state overnight and into Tuesday, the National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for New Hampshire for Wednesday through Thursday as 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected central and northern part of the state.

Winds could become fierce along the coast and commutes on Wednesday morning could be affected by icy conditions on the roads, but as temperatures rise it will just be rain.

For the central to northern areas of the state, this will put a large dent in the snowpack as snowmelt is expected and increased concern for minor flooding and ice jams on rivers is possible, said Michael Clair, NWS meteorologist in Gray, Maine forecasts for New Hampshire.

He said Tuesday morning that the impact of all this rain will be gradual but widespread by Wednesday afternoon.

And for the state’s ski industry, this forecast comes at a bad time.

“It’s a shame,” Clair said, that the rain will wash away weeks of accumulated snow that is the lifeblood of the state’s tourism industry, especially at Christmas time.

But it will be cold again and the roads will be clearer at the weekend, according to the forecast.

Cold weather will follow Wednesday’s heavy, drenching rain, and while many areas will now lose all snow on the ground, snow levels in the mountains and higher elevations will continue but remain compact, he said.

Wind is not expected to be a problem inland, with the exception of the Lancaster and Whitefield areas, where howling winds may occur Wednesday afternoon and evening, and on mountain peaks.

Clair said he expects river flooding to be minor, but there is concern that ice jams could form, which could rise quickly and were possible late afternoon and into Wednesday night, he said.

At Cannon Mountain State Ski Area in Franconia Notch, snowmaking was suspended Tuesday and the five inches of fresh snow from the overnight storm covered groomed terrain with a reported base of 37 inches and 35 open trails.

High temperatures of 47 degrees are forecast for Wednesday, with rain and winds at the summit blowing at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour.