New Hampshire, 2019

Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 12 to 13, 2019

February 12 to 13, 2019 · NWS GYX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Early on the 12th surface low pressure formed over the southern Plains, lifting north and strengthening into the Great Lakes. By the evening of the 12th low pressure had deepened to around 995 mb.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Early on the 12th surface low pressure formed over the southern Plains, lifting north and strengthening into the Great Lakes. By the evening of the 12th low pressure had deepened to around 995 mb. A warm front extended to the east of low pressure, held in place by a 1038 mb high pressure centered over Quebec. The strong low pressure in the Great Lakes and the exit region of a greater than 100 knot jet streak over the Canadian Maritimes was supporting strong and broad warm air advection over the Northeast. With cold and dry air in place precipitation initially began as snow across northern New England. Secondary low pressure developed off the Mid Atlantic coast and strengthened south of Long Island, ensuring that low level cold air remained in place. Aloft warmer air surged northward, eventually changing precipitation to sleet and freezing rain over much of New Hampshire. Early on the morning of the 13th dry air aloft brought a quick end to precipitation from west to east.

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 Feb 12, 9:37 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 12, 9:37 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 12, 3:15 AM EST, 8 hours 45 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter storm, 2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Southern Grafton

When
February 12, 12:00 PM EST to February 13, 5:00 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)

Snow began in the afternoon and quickly became moderate to heavy in the late afternoon. By late evening warmer air aloft changed precipitation to a mix of snow and sleet. Southeast flow allowed some upslope enhancement of precipitation in the higher terrain of the southern White Mountains. The mix continued into the early morning hours when precipitation quickly ended from west to east. Combined snow and sleet accumulations ranged from 5 to 7 inches.

Heavy Snow, Northern Coos

When
February 12, 3:00 PM EST to February 13, 6:00 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)

Snow began in the late afternoon and quickly became moderate to heavy in the evening. After midnight warmer air aloft changed some of the precipitation to a mix of snow and sleet. Precipitation quickly ended from west to east early on the morning of the 13th. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 7 to 11 inches in the higher terrain of the eastern North Country, with strong downsloping winds leading to 3 to 5 inch amounts near the Connecticut River.

Heavy Snow, Southern Coos

When
February 12, 3:00 PM EST to February 13, 5:00 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)

Snow began in the late afternoon and quickly became moderate to heavy in the evening. After midnight warmer air aloft changed some of the precipitation to a mix of snow and sleet. Precipitation quickly ended from west to east early on the morning of the 13th. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 7 to 11 inches in the higher terrain of the eastern North Country, with strong downsloping winds leading to 3 to 5 inch amounts near the Connecticut River.

Winter Storm, Southern Carroll

When
February 12, 4:00 PM EST to February 13, 5:00 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)

Snow began in the afternoon and quickly became moderate to heavy in the late afternoon. By late evening warmer air aloft changed precipitation to a mix of snow and sleet. Southeast flow allowed some upslope enhancement of precipitation in the higher terrain of the southern White Mountains. The mix continued into the early morning hours when precipitation quickly ended from west to east. Combined snow and sleet accumulations ranged from 5 to 7 inches.

Winter Storm, Northern Carroll

When
February 12, 4:00 PM EST to February 13, 5:00 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)

Snow began in the late afternoon and quickly became moderate to heavy in the evening. By late evening warmer air aloft changed precipitation to a mix of snow and sleet. The mix continued into the early morning hours when precipitation quickly ended from west to east. Combined snow and sleet accumulations ranged from 6 to 9 inches.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Hampshire in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Hampshire, February 2019

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: 798793, 798772, 798773, 798791, 798792.