Power Outage in Dover, NH

Rain changed to snow in the Lakes Region during the early morning on the 14th. Snowfall quickly became moderate to heavy at times, especially in the higher terrain. Snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 17 inches, with the highest totals observed in the higher terrain southeast of Lake Winnipesaukee. Power outages were widespread where snowfall totals exceeded 10 inches.

Snow began during the evening of the 22nd. Snowfall became moderate to heavy at times during the morning of the 23rd. A mesoscale band of snow set up from southern parts of the Upper Valley east northeast through the Lakes Region. Snowfall had a high snow to liquid ratio, and fell at an inch per hour at times. Light snow continued through most of the day on the 23rd. The wet nature of the snow allowed for weighing down of tree branches which led to approximately 7000 power outages in the county. Snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 16 inches.

Southeast New Hampshire experienced three periods of strong to damaging winds. One in the early morning hours of the 23rd generally had wind gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range. A second during the morning to midday period featured wind gusts around 60 mph. The final round of strong wind gusts occurred with a band of thunderstorms as they moved across southern New Hampshire in the early evening. Numerous trees and wires were reported down in the area, and power outages approached 30 percent of customers across the county.

On the August 2nd drought monitor, Strafford County was 48% in severe drought and 52% moderate drought. By the end of the month, 36% of the county was in severe drought and 62% in moderate drought. The improved designations were the result of scattered heavy rainfall with most areas receiving between 2.5 and 5.5 inches of rain.||Several towns instituted voluntary water restrictions. Hydro operators balanced needs of lake levels, hydroelectric power generation needs, and the discharges to maintain stream flow needs downstream. Most of the reported water quantity issues were from southern and coastal areas. Farmers without irrigation experienced stressed vegetation from a lack of rain and above normal temperatures in July. First-cut hay crop was near normal, but subsequent hay growth was slowed. Most streamflow stations in central and southern rivers with 30+ years of record were between the 10th-25th percentiles compared to normal.

Severe thunderstorm outflow wind gusts downed a tree along with powerlines in East Barrington, New Hampshire.

Tropical Storm Isaias brought moderate impacts to Strafford County with multiple reports of snapped and uprooted trees along with broken branches due to wind gusts in the 40 mph range. Strafford County reported scattered power outages with the majority of power being restored within 24 hours. No flooding was reported.

A severe thunderstorm snapped a power pole on Hall Road in East Barrington.

High winds associated with the remnants of Sandy knocked down trees and branches and caused widespread power outages causing an estimated $53,000 in damages.

A severe thunderstorm snapped a utility pole in half and downed power lines near Dover.

High winds downed numerous trees and power lines in Madbury.

Trees and power lines down.

An upper low ejecting out of the Rockies ultimately phased with a northern stream shortwave trough leading to cyclogenesis off the East Coast on the 5th. Low pressure formed over the southern Appalachians and moved northeast towards Nantucket by the evening of the 5th. The storm tracked into the Gulf of Maine and eventually began weakening in the Bay of Fundy early on the 6th. While the radar presentation looked like a classic northern New England snow storm, the antecedent air mass was marginal for snow and precipitation type became elevation and/or precipitation rate dependent. Most notably the snow that did fall was wet and sticky. The wet snow bonded to trees which led to downed tree limbs and widespread power outages.

Broad shortwave crossing southern Canada pushed an associated cold front into southern Canada during the early afternoon. A pre-frontal trough moved into eastern New York during the early afternoon with individual cells and line segments forming into one large squall line with bowing segments. The squall line pushed into central and southern New Hampshire by mid afternoon and reached the coast by early evening. Good heating ahead of this line with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s resulted in capes of 1500 to 3000 j/kg across much of the region. Although shear was limited, stronger cells moving around 35 kts transported strong mid level winds to the surface resulting in numerous reports of wind damage. Up to 45,000 people were without power by late afternoon in southern New Hampshire. Stronger cells also produced quarter to golf ball size hail.

High winds knocked over trees which caused power outages and other damages to the area. Trees were reported down in Grafton County by local officials. In Stafford County, a tree fell on a home in Dover causing an estimated $5000 in damage, and in Rockingham County, a tree fell into a garage in Londonderry causing an estimated $30,000 in damage.

A low pressure area that developed over the Maryland coast and moved northeast through the Gulf of Maine caused strong and gusty, northwest winds over portions of southern New Hampshire. The winds downed trees and limbs onto power lines causing scattered power outages. Approximately 950 customers were affected, mainly in Belknap and southern Grafton Counties. Peak wind gusts were measured at 60 mph at the Isles of Shoals and 40 mph in Portsmouth.