How much snow will NH get? What to know about coming storm

As New England heads into December, the region will see its first winter storm of the season.

In New Hampshire, heavy accumulation is expected across the state, marking the first significant snowfall south of the mountains. The National Weather Service (NWS) of Gray, Maine has issued a winter storm watch for most of the state, warning of widespread, heavy snowfall and dangerous driving conditions.

Here’s the latest forecast for this week’s winter storm in New Hampshire, including timing and snowfall totals around the state.

When will it snow in NH this week?

According to the NWS, the snowstorm in New Hampshire this week will last throughout the day on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The snowfall is epected to start Tuesday morning, with the first inch likely falling ahead of the morning commute. Snow will continue to fall steadily all day long, with heavy periods of snofall expected during the afternoon. The storm will end Tuesday night, around 8-9 p.m. in the western part of the state or 10-11 p.m. in the eastern half.

The rest of the week is expected to be cool and breezy, with some lingering snow showers in the mountains.

How much snow will NH get this week?

The NWS forecasts that most of New Hampshire will see at least six inches of snow this week. The northernmost part of the state up in Coos County will see four to five inches, while Portsmouth will likely only see a couple inches. However, the rest of the state is expected to get six to eight inches of snow, with up to 10 inches possible in central New Hampshire.

Dangerous driving conditions expected in NH

Hazardous travel conditions will develop on Tuesday due to the timing and accumulation of the storm, the NWS warns. Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will be slick, with periods of extremely low visbility due to heavy snowfall. The dangerous road conditions will especially affect the Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening commutes, but the NWS recommends delaying all travel if possible.

If travel is absolutely necessary, the NWS urges to drive with extreme caution and to pack a winter storm kit, with items such as a flashlight, a shovel, blankets and water.

New Hampshire weather watches and warnings

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Catherine Messier