The winter precipitation of choice to fall during Friday's storm looks to be sleet for the Seacoast.

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service were looking for a cold front to usher in cold air that would turn the rain into sleet, freezing rain and finally snow. But the front slowed down and it looks like the precipitation will stay as sleet and accumulate at least an inch.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of New Hampshire and Maine for 7-14 inches of snow to fall by the time the storm pushes away on Friday afternoon.  A Winter Storm Advisory is in effect for the immediate coastal areas of New Hampshire and Massachusetts for less snow and more sleet.

Explanation of winter precipitation
Explanation of winter precipitation (NWS)
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The highs for the day were reached on Friday as temperatures drop into the 20s which will eventually bring in snow.

"You get this combination of slush on the roads starting to tighten up and freezing. All you need is an inch or two of snow on top of that and it will continue to make driving more difficult," meteorologist Derek Schroeter at the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine told Seacoast Current.

Expected sleet accumulation from Friday's storm
Expected snow accumulation from Friday's storm (NWS)
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Storm Impacts

Some of the impacts of the storm include many school districts switching to virtual learning for the day or completely closing.

Other impacts:

  • Dover and Kingston: Waste Management will not run their trash and recycling routes on Friday. Those residents on the Friday schedule will be picked up on Saturday, February 5.
  • Kittery: Kittery Community Center and the Rice Public Library will be closed
  • Rochester: Citywide parking ban in effect 11 p.m. Thursday until 8 a.m. Friday
  • Somersworth: No on street parking starting at midnight Friday morning until midnight Saturday

8 flights originating at Manchester-Boston Airport and 226 from Logan International Airport were canceled on Friday morning, according to FlightAware.com.

The New Hampshire DMV have suspended all driver road tests at all locations in the state until noon today. If you have an appointment, please contact the DMV at 603-227-4000 to reschedule. CDL pre-trip and skill test only will be conducted.

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

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