Strong storms swept northern New Hampshire overnight
Strong storms swept northern New Hampshire Tuesday evening through early Wednesday, delivering heavy rain, vivid lightning, and hail from Columbia and Lancaster to Jefferson. A National Weather Service severe thunderstorm watch covered northern counties as a cold front pushed south, while Canadian wildfire smoke moderated heat and kept air quality Boston and New England residents watch on alert.
Key Takeaways
- WMUR Storm Watch 9 crews tracked heavy rain, hail, and lightning across Columbia, Lancaster, and Jefferson late Tuesday.
- NWS severe thunderstorm watches covered Grafton, Sullivan, and Coos counties in New Hampshire until 4 a.m. Wednesday.
- WCAX reported uprooted trees, 1-inch hail in Coos County, and power lines down on a house in New Hampshire.
- Canadian wildfire smoke kept temperatures cooler and may have reduced storm intensity across the North Country.
- WGME warned northern New Hampshire faced the greatest risk for damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
What happened during Tuesday night's storms in northern New Hampshire?
News 9 crews documented severe weather as it moved through the North Country. In Columbia, heavy rain, lightning flashes, and hail hitting the Storm Watch 9 Storm Tracker roof marked an intense opening wave. Dark, heavy clouds rolled through Lancaster ahead of the watch, then rain, thunder, and notable lightning before conditions eased around 10 p.m.
In Jefferson, lightning accompanied torrential downpours as the line tracked south. Visibility dropped at times in driving rain and strong winds. Storm chasers from Massachusetts and Maine converged on the region, equipped with chainsaws and medical kits to document conditions and assist if needed.
Why did wildfire smoke shape air quality Boston and New England were watching?
The same weather setup carried two stories. Canadian wildfire smoke spread orange haze over New England, keeping temperatures in the mid to upper 80s instead of the 90s and possibly reducing storm intensity, WMUR meteorologists reported. In northern New Hampshire, smoke stayed high enough that local air quality was largely unaffected.
Farther south, lingering smoke raised broader regional concerns Wednesday, with WCAX noting surface-level smoke that could affect sensitive groups. A cold front forecast for late week was expected to shift winds and clear skies. For more on how environmental data shapes public alerts, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
What damage did Tuesday's storms leave behind?
Damage reports stretched along the northern border. WCAX documented uprooted trees in Essex County, Vermont, and Coos County, New Hampshire, plus 1-inch hail near the state line just before 6 p.m. Hail near the Coos and Grafton county border continued for roughly six minutes, shredding leaves and large branches.
Later waves brought additional tree damage. In New Hampshire, power lines fell onto a house. Thousands of customers lost power across Vermont Wednesday morning, though no injuries were reported. Red Cross shelters opened in Newport, Vermont, and Haverhill, New Hampshire, during the storms.
How severe was the threat across Maine and northern New England?
WGME forecasters warned that mountains and northern New Hampshire faced the highest chance for numerous severe thunderstorms Tuesday as a strong cold front approached. Primary threats included damaging wind, large hail, isolated tornadoes, and flash flooding. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for northern New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York's North Country until 4 a.m. Wednesday, with gusts up to 70 mph, hail up to two inches, and a possible tornado or two.
Residents were urged to seek indoor shelter on the lowest floor away from windows and use multiple warning sources, including local apps. Full storm tracking and damage details are available from WMUR and WCAX.