Intense low pressure resulted in very high winds across New Hampshire during the morning and early afternoon of December 21. A wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at the Portsmouth ASOS and a gust of 70 mph was recorded at the C-MAN station on the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire coast.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.
Intense low pressure resulted in very high winds across New Hampshire during the morning and early afternoon of December 21. A wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at the Portsmouth ASOS and a gust of 70 mph was recorded at the C-MAN station on the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire coast. Power outages were reported across the state due to downed trees and wires.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 21, 9:31 AM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
931 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTHWARD FROM THE MID ATLANTIC
STATES AND INTO NORTHERN NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND TODAY. A COLD
FRONT WILL SWEEP OFF THE COAST BY THIS EVENING. THE LOW WILL
MEANDER AROUND NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH SATURDAY...FINALLY
MOVING INTO THE MARITIMES SATURDAY NIGHT. WEAK LOW PRESSURE IS
THEN EXPECTED TO PASS SOUTH OF NEW ENGLAND TUESDAY. A STRONGER LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO APPROACH FROM THE SOUTHWEST ON
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
930 AM UPDATE... FIRST BATCH OF PRECIP HAS CLEARED OUT TO THE EAST
AND THE SECOND ROUND IS RAPIDLY MOVING INTO SOUTH WESTERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE. WINDS ARE STARTING TO PICK UP ALONG THE COAST AND THE
WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT. TEMPERATURES IN THE MOUNTAINS
REMAIN COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW... WITH SOME PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE
REMAINING POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NEXT FEW HOURS. TWEAKED
TEMPERATURES UPWARDS ALONG THE COAST WHERE THE MID 40S ARE ALREADY
WIDESPREAD. WATER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE UPPER 40S AS WELL WHICH
SHOULD KEEP TEMPS JUST BELOW THE RECORD OF 53 AT PORTLAND. HAVE
LEFT POPS AND PRECIP TYPE ALONG AS THE FORECAST IS IN GENERALLY
GOOD SHAPE SO FAR.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
STRONG PRIMARY LOW PRESSURE CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS
THE GREAT LAKES EARLY THIS MORNING. SECONDARY LOW PRESSURE
CONTINUES TO DEVELOP OVER THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. THIS SECONDARY
LOW WILL MOVE NORTHWARD AND MERGE WITH THE PRIMARY LOW OVER THE
SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY TONIGHT.
FORCING FOR ASCENT HAS BEEN INCREASING OVERNIGHT...AND THIS HAS
AIDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATIFORM PRECIPITATION SHIELD
OVERSPREADING THE CWA FROM SW TO NE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE
PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN IN THE FORM OF SNOW THROUGH 08Z FOR MUCH OF
THE AREA...EXCEPT FOR THE IMMEDIATE COAST AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE COLUMN SHOULD REMAIN JUST COLD ENOUGH FOR
MOSTLY SNOW AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST THROUGH ALMOST 12Z...BUT
THEN WARMING THROUGHOUT THE COLUMN IS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY
DEVELOP. THIS WILL CHANGE ANY SNOW OVER TO RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF THE
AREA. THE EXCEPTION SHOULD BE THE WESTERN ME MOUNTAINS...WHICH
SHOULD HOLD ONTO SNOW AND SLEET FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. THIS IS WHERE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT.
SOUTH OF THE ADVISORY AREA...A GENERAL 1-3 INCHES OF SNOW CAN BE
EXPECTED EARLY THIS MORNING BEFORE THE CHANGE TO RAIN. LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 3-6 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN PORTIONS OF THE
WHITE MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE FOOTHILLS IN MAINE.
WINDS ARE THE NEXT CONCERN. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN 80 KT
SOUTHEASTERLY LOW LEVEL JET MOVING ACROSS THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON. FOR THE MOST PART...INVERTED LOW LEVELS SHOULD INHIBIT
MUCH OF THIS FROM REACHING THE SURFACE. HOWEVER...HIGH WIND GUSTS
OF UP TO 60 MPH REMAIN LIKELY ON THE MID COAST THIS AFTERNOON.
FURTHER SOUTHWEST...GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED ON MUCH OF
THE ME AND NH COASTAL PLAIN...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON. WE HAVE
EXPANDED THE WIND ADVISORY TO INCLUDE THESE AREAS. IN
ADDITION...DOWNSLOPING SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS OFF THE WHITES TOWARD
THE NORTHERN CT VALLEY MAY GUST UP TO 50 MPH AT TIMES AS WELL.
HAVE THEREFORE ADDED THEM TO THE ADVISORY ALSO.
WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON WIND CONDITIONS TO THE
SOUTH OF THE CWA THIS MORNING TO SEE HOW THE LLJ IS BEHAVING.
THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY THAT THE HIGH WIND WARNING WILL HAVE TO
BE EXPANDED IF STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO MIX DOWN JUST AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT...ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS CONVECTION INVOLVED.
IN ADDITION...SOME PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS
IS LIKELY TODAY WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. SOME STORM DRAINS MAY BE
CLOGGED WITH SNOW STILL. BRIEF BUT FAST WITHIN-BANK RISES ON
CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE POSSIBLE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MEANDER AROUND NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY...RESULTING IN NUMEROUS RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS AND PLENTY
OF CLOUDS.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
THE STRONG LOW PRES SYSTEM EXITS INTO THE MARITIMES SAT NIGHT AND
IN ITS WAKE A DRY AND COLD WNWLY FLOW WILL BE FELT SAT NIGHT AND
SUNDAY...SOME SCT SNOW SHOWERS ARE PSBL IN THE MTNS. GENRALLY A
DRY AND COLD NWLY FLOW IS EXPECTED THRU MIDWEEK ALTHOUGH ON XMAS
DAY A WEAK SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE WATCHED AS IT PASSES JUST FAR
ENOUGH S NOT TO AFFECT THE AREA AS PER GFS. IF EURO IS RIGHT THEN
SOME LIGHT SNOW IS PSBL XMAS DAY. FOR NOW WILL STICK WITH
CONTINUITY IN FCST AND GO WITH A DRY AND COLD FCST FOR XMAS DAY
AND SEE HOW THE EURO HANDLES THE SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT FEW RUNS.
THE SYSTEM OF CONCERN WILL BE ON THURSDAY WHERE MODELS BRING A
STRONG UPPER LOW SYSTEM FROM THE TENNESSE VLY AND MOVE IT NEWD
ALLOWING A COASTAL LOW TO DEVLOP AND THEN MOVE INTO THE GULF OF
MAINE BY THURS. THIS MAY PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SNOW
ACROSS THE AREA DEPENDANT ON THE TRACK. FOR NOW WILL MENTION THE
CHC OF SNOW ON THURS INTO THURS NIGHT.
USED A BLEND OF THE MAV/MET GUID FOR DAY3 AND THEN THE ADJ MEX
TEMPS FOR DAYS 4-7.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...CONDITIONS LOWER TO IFR IN
SNOW...THEN RAIN TODAY. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS ALSO EXPECTED
TODAY AS WINDS AROUND 2000 FT INCREASE TO AROUND 60KT FROM THE
SOUTHEAST. SOME 40KT GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE SFC.
CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE TO MVFR AND VFR TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY.
LONG TERM...MAINLY VFR.
&&
.MARINE...
SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...STRONG SE WINDS ARE
EXPECTED AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT TODAY. GUSTS 50 TO 60 KT ARE
EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. WAVE HEIGHTS
INCREASE TO AS HIGH AS 20 FT ON THE OCEAN WATERS. WINDS WILL
WEAKEN AND SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT THIS
EVENING...WITH SEAS SUBSIDING VERY SLOWLY.
LONG TERM...A WNWLY GRAD WIND SAT NIGHT AND SUN MAY REQUIRE A SCA
OTRW WINDS/SEAS TO REMAIN LIGHT.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
STRONG ONSHORE WINDS TODAY AND SEAS BUILDING UPWARDS TO 20 FT
OVER THE COASTAL WATERS COULD LEAD TO SOME SPLASHOVER AND BEACH
EROSION DURING HIGH TIDE THIS AFTERNOON.
THE FIRST HIGH TIDE AT 527 AM FRIDAY AT PORTLAND IS PREDICTED TO
BE 9.2 FT. THERE WILL BE SOME MINOR SURGE BUT THE TIDE SHOULD BE
WELL BELOW THE 12 FT TIDAL FLOOD STAGE... IN FACT PROBABLY NOT
GOING MUCH ABOVE 10 FT. SEAS WILL HAVE YET TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL
AS WINDS STILL ON THEIR WAY UP. THE HIGH TIDE AT 556 PM IN
PORTLAND IS PREDICTED TO BE LOWER... AT 8.5 FT. A 2 FOOT STORM
SURGE WOULD PUSH THE TIDE TO 10.5 FT WHICH AGAIN IS BELOW TIDAL
FLOOD STAGE BUT AT THIS TIME THE HIGHEST SEAS FROM THIS EVENT
COULD LEAD TO SOME SPLASHOVER AND BEACH EROSION. WILL HOLD OFF ON
COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES SINCE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH
FLOOD STAGE BUT MAY NEED TO PUT OUT A STATEMENT AT SOME POINT TO
COVER IT.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MEZ018>020-023-
024.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MEZ025>028.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR MEZ008-
009.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MEZ021-022.
NH...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR NHZ010-013-014.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NHZ001>003.
MARINE...STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR ANZ150>154.
&&
SYNOPSIS...
NEAR TERM...
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 NHZ001>003-220845- NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MEZ007-012>014-NHZ004>009-220845- NORTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET- NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL-SULLIVAN- MERRIMACK-BELKNAP- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SNOW THIS MORNING WILL BE CHANGING TO RAIN BY MID TO LATE MORNING. SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MEZ018>020-023-024-NHZ010-013-014-220845- INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-COASTAL YORK- COASTAL CUMBERLAND-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MEZ008-009-220845- NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MEZ025>028-220845- SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MEZ021-022-220845- KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ150>154-220845- STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME OUT TO 25 NM-PENOBSCOT BAY- PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME OUT TO 25 NM-CASCO BAY- CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM- 338 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CASCO BAY...PENOBSCOT BAY...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME AND THE COASTAL WATERS FROM STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 1136 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 MEZ008-009-220000- NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COBURN GORE...RANGELEY...KINGFIELD... BINGHAM...JACKMAN 1136 AM EST FRI DEC 21 2012 POCKETS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL FALL OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. MANY LOCATIONS ARE JUST BELOW THE FREEZING MARK AND MAY EXPERIENCE A CHANGE OVER TO RAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds downed trees and wires on Unity Springs Road in Lempster.
A wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at the Portsmouth ASOS.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Hampshire in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in New Hampshire, December 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 431801, 431802.