Winter Storm — Western and Central Hillsborough, New Hampshire

2023-03-13 to 2023-03-15 · Western and Central Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Event narrative

Precipitation began as light snow in the Monadnock Region during the late evening on the 13th. Overnight snow became moderate to heavy at times. Snow accumulation was highly dependent on elevation, with the lowest totals near the Merrimack River Valley. Snowfall totals ranged from 8 inches in the valley to more than 30 inches in the Monadnocks. Power outages were widespread where snowfall totals exceeded 10 inches, along with numerous downed trees and closed roads.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure developed off the coast of the Carolinas early on the 13th. The low deepened rapidly overnight into the morning of the 14th. The storm became occluded off of Cape Cod and retrograded into the Gulf of Maine, where it stalled through the morning of the 15th. Given the later season nature of the storm, precipitation type was highly dependent on elevation and time of day. Snow began earlier for higher elevations, and it took until late afternoon and early evening for lower elevations to change to accumulating snowfall. Heavy, wet accumulations and gusty winds led to widespread power outages south of the White Mountains, with the Monadnock Region being hit the hardest. Power outages peaked around 80K, with the majority of outages across southwest, New Hampshire. After the storm occluded the precipitation intensity came down quickly and remained off and on snow showers into the 15th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1090625. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.