A powerful nor’easter swept through New Hampshire on Monday, delivering heavy snowfall and near-blizzard conditions to coastal communities while blanketing the state in up to 10.5 inches of fresh powder.
Storm Impact
The National Weather Service confirmed blizzard conditions were achieved in Portsmouth and Rochester, where wind gusts reached 47 mph and heavy snow combined to create whiteout conditions. The storm prompted blizzard warnings for coastal Rockingham County, interior Rockingham County, and Hillsborough County through Monday evening.
Communities under the warning included Manchester, Nashua, Salem, Portsmouth, Rye, and Hampton. Wind gusts exceeded 40 mph across southern New Hampshire, with a peak gust of 67 mph recorded in Kittery just across the Maine border.
Snowfall Totals by Region
According to the National Weather Service and WMUR reports, snowfall totals varied significantly across the state:
- Exeter/Epping/Greenland: 10.5 inches
- Fitzwilliam: 10.0 inches
- Durham: 8.3 inches
- Portsmouth: 8.6 inches (24-hour total)
- Atkinson: 8.0 inches
- Rye: 8.6 inches
- Dover: 9.5 inches
- Hampstead: 8.5 inches
- Bedford: 6.0 inches
- Concord area: 5-6 inches
Power and Travel
Several hundred New Hampshire households lost power during the height of the storm, but utility crews restored service to all affected customers by Monday night. The relatively limited outages were attributed to the storm’s wetter, heavier snow consistency in many areas.
Travel remained treacherous throughout Monday, with the combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds creating slick roads and significantly reduced visibility. State transportation crews worked continuously to clear major highways and arterials.
Looking Ahead
Forecasters are monitoring another potential storm system for Wednesday that could bring additional snow to the region. Residents are advised to monitor local forecasts and prepare for possible further accumulation midweek.
Snowfall data sourced from the National Weather Service Gray/Portland and WMUR. Power outage information via Boston.com regional monitoring.