Snow Expected on the Seacoast Saturday Afternoon into Sunday

The first significant snow of the season will affect the Seacoast Saturday night but a potential mix with rain could affect the total accumulation along the immediate coast.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect starting Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning when 4-8 inches of snow is expected to fall from a storm tracking south of Cape Cod that will move out to sea Sunday morning.

There's no doubt that the storm will be a snow event but how much rain falls at the start of the storm will help determine the accumulation, according to National Weather Service forecaster Donnie Dumont.

"We have a little less confidence in the Seacoast than we do even 20 miles north or 20 miles inland about how much snow we get. It's going to be a wet snow in the Seacoast region. It could be a little sloppier so it doesn't get as deep," Dumont told Seacoast Current.

Areas away from the immediate coast will have all snow.

The snow will start around sunset after 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon with the heaviest snow falling from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. tapering off by daybreak, according to Dumont.

"It's pretty much going to hit while everyone is sleeping," Dumont said.

Parking Ban in Dover

The City of Dover will have a citywide parking ban from 10 p.m. Saturday night until 6 a.m. Sunday morning meaning no parking is allowed on city streets, sidewalks or adjacent public parking areas.

Parking is also prohibited in the Third Street and Belknap parking lots, as well as the public parking spaces in the Orchard Street lot.

Vehicles in violation of the parking ban and related restrictions may be fined and towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Victoria Sheehan is recommending essential travel only during the storm. If travel is necessary Sheehan said to remove all ice and snow from vehicles.

More snow before Christmas?

Once the snow ends the forecast looks quiet until Tuesday afternoon when a weak cold front crosses New England brings a chance of snow showers mostly in the mountains.  A glancing blow from a low could bring some light snow to the Seacoast on Wednesday night.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH