Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Hampshire, January 26 to 28, 2015

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Hampshire, January 26 to 28, 2015
Start: 2015-01-26T20:00
End: 2015-01-28T04:00
Location: New Hampshire

January 26 to 28, 2015 · NWS GYX · 19 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

An area of low pressure developed off the Delmarva peninsula on Monday, January 26th, and intensified rapidly as it moved slowly northward through the 27th. Snow spread northward across the region Monday night and became heavy on Tuesday, the 27th. Winds became strong during the day Tuesday leading to blizzard conditions at times along and inland from the coast. The snow persisted into Tuesday night in many areas with blowing and drifting snow. Along the coast, large waves combined with a storm surge produced coastal flooding and splash over. In Hampton, the Tuesday morning tide was 1.43 feet above flood levels (see graph below), inundating many streets on the bay side of town.

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 to more than 30 inches across much of the southeastern part of the state. Elsewhere, amounts were generally 6 to 14 inches with some lower amounts in the Connecticut River Valley.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 26, 5:44 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 26, 5:44 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 26, 1:03 PM EST, 6 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

MEZ007>009-012>014-NHZ002>009-011-015-271815-
NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN OXFORD-
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON-
NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL-SULLIVAN-
MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-CHESHIRE NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM
EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ025>028-271815-
SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 6 PM EST TUESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ018>022-NHZ010-012-013-271815-
INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-
INTERIOR WALDO-STRAFFORD-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NHZ001-271815-
NORTHERN COOS-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM
EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON 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...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ150>154-271815-
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-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TUESDAY TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY...

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...THIS AFTERNOON 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...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ023-024-NHZ014-271815-
COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-
103 PM EST MON JAN 26 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 6 PM EST TUESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE AND
SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 heavy snow, 4 blizzard, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Belknap

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Belknap forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.519, -71.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cheshire

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Cheshire forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.919, -72.251 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Merrimack

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Merrimack forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.298, -71.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Carroll

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.874, -71.203 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Grafton

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Grafton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.941, -71.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Grafton

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Grafton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.941, -71.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Coos

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Coos forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.690, -71.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Carroll

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.874, -71.203 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sullivan

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.361, -72.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western and Central Hillsborough

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Western and Central Hillsborough forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.915, -71.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Coos

When: January 26, 8:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Coos forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.690, -71.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Coastal Rockingham

When: January 27, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.985, -71.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Interior Rockingham

When: January 27, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.985, -71.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Eastern Hillsborough

When: January 27, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Hillsborough forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 42.915, -71.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Strafford

When: January 27, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Strafford forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 43.297, -71.029 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Coastal Rockingham

When: January 27, 12:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.985, -71.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Once blizzard conditions subsided, snow and blowing snow continued into the early morning hours of the 28th.

Winter Storm, Interior Rockingham

When: January 27, 12:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Interior Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.985, -71.089 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Once blizzard conditions subsided, snow and blowing snow continued into the early morning hours of the 28th.

Winter Storm, Eastern Hillsborough

When: January 27, 12:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Hillsborough forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.915, -71.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Once blizzard conditions subsided, snow and blowing snow continued into the early morning hours of the 28th.

Winter Storm, Strafford

When: January 27, 12:00 PM EST to January 28, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Strafford forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.297, -71.029 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Once blizzard conditions subsided, snow and blowing snow continued into the early morning hours of the 28th.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Hampshire in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in New Hampshire, January 2015

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 554567, 554568, 554569, 554570, 554571, 554572, 554573, 554574, 554577, 554578, 559142, 554562, 554563, 554564, 554565, 559137, 559138, 559139, 559140.