Weather

March 07. 2013 8:58PM

Warmer air should keep snow totals down

By DOUG ALDEN
New Hampshire Union Leader

Drivers head south on Interstate 93 through Manchester as light snow reduced visability Thursday afternoon. DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER

MANCHESTER - New Hampshire residents are expected to get a little help cleaning up from the latest round of snow.

Temperatures are expected to reach the 40s Friday, melting away accumulation from a storm that hit Thursday and was expected to last until the morning.

Chris Kimble, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, said commuters in southern New Hampshire could have a difficult time getting to work in the morning, but the roads should be cleared by the afternoon.

"Whenever it rains on top of snow, it turns to slush. It's a little more slippery to drive on, but it also makes it quicker to melt and easier to deal with for people trying to clear the snow," Kimble said.

Shovelers should still beware of another round of wet, heavy snow.

The snow started falling Thursday afternoon when temperatures were still above freezing. The temperatures started falling around 5 p.m. and the intensity of the storm was expected to increase overnight, leading to an accumulation of 4 to 6 inches before morning in southern areas. The Lakes Region was expected to get 1 to 3 inches while the North Country was only expected to see flurries or a light coating.

Kimble said coastal areas could see flooding, especially in the two hours before and after high tide at 7:30 a.m. Northeast winds have been pushing water toward the shore and a surge up to 2 feet is expected.

Highs through the weekend are predicted to be the 40s and no more snow is in the immediate forecast, Kimble said.

The next round of precipitation is expected to be rain throughout the state on Monday night.

While winter is showing signs of breaking, it isn't over yet.

"We can get snow probably through April." Kimble said.

Earlier Thursday, a tractor-trailer tanker hauling 65,000 gallons of milk rolled over onto its side on Interstate 89 South in Sutton, rupturing the tank and spilling some milk.

The crash happened about 3:35 a.m. at mile marker 29.6, between exits 11 and 10, according to state police. Frederick Steinhour, 59, of Enosburg, Vt., was driving the loaded truck when he lost control and the truck slid off the left shoulder, rolling onto the driver's side. Steinhour was not injured.

State troopers as well as members of the state Department of Environmental Service were on the scene.

Traffic was reduced to one lane in the area of the crash as crews worked to remove the truck from the scene.

dalden@unionleader.com