Harrison Thorp 7:52 a.m.
Friday, January 28, 2022 7:54 am
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A potent nor'easter packing winds of up to 35 mph and snow accumulations of one to two feet is expected to hit the Greater Rochester area beginning late tonight.
Near blizzard conditions are expected, according to Accuweather meteorologists, who said travel could be "very difficult to impossible" during the height of the storm.
In fact, the storm is predicted to be a contender for the record books as one of Boston's top January snowstorms.
More than 24.6 inches of snow could easily capture the number one slot, which was set by a storm between January 26 and January 28, 2015.
Flurries could begin as early as 9 a.m. today and continue on and off throughout the day before ramping up to potentially full blizzard conditions on Saturday morning. The heaviest snow will begin falling around 7 a.m. on Saturday and won't abate till the wee hours Sunday. Temps will remain in the teens throughout the storm.
Winds of 35 mph could bring down branches and some trees which can lead to sporadic power outages.
Meanwhile, Eversource in a statement today said it is preparing for whatever the storm may bring and whatever track it takes.
Eversource officials say the heavy snowfall and strong winds expected early Saturday into Sunday can bring down trees or tree limbs onto electric lines and equipment causing power outages. In advance of the storm, the energy company is strategically prepositioning equipment and line and tree crews across the state - including additional out-of-state crews - so they're ready to respond quickly and safely to any storm-related outages.
"We've had a close eye on this storm since the beginning of the week and continue to carefully track its path using several weather services and storm models," said Eversource President of New Hampshire Operations Doug Foley. "This storm continues to be tough to track, and we aren't leaving anything to chance. We have hundreds of line, tree and service workers who will be geared up and ready to respond to this storm and any damage it may cause to the electric system. We also remind customers that restorations may take longer as we ensure the safety of our employees who will be responding in challenging road conditions."
Eversource reminds customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Be sure to report any outage online at Eversource.com, or by calling 800-662-7764. Customers who signed up for the company's two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
Customers are encouraged to prepare for the storm by assembling or restocking a storm kit which should include essentials like flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable foods, pet food and essentials and any needed medications. In addition, make sure cell phones and devices are full charged, create an emergency plan with family members and check on elderly neighbors and friends