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New Hampshire Thanksgiving: 'Micro Blizzards' Could Hit Concord, NH
Concord, NH – Imagine traveling north on Interstate 93 for Thanksgiving, heading toward the White Mountains, when the highway ahead suddenly disappears behind a wall of blowing snow. Within moments, v
By Tessa Morgan · 2026-11-14T10:49:32.022Z
Concord, NH – Imagine traveling north on Interstate 93 for Thanksgiving, heading toward the White Mountains, when the highway ahead suddenly disappears behind a wall of blowing snow. Within moments, vehicles become difficult to see, brake lights emerge through the whiteout and a routine holiday drive turns into a dangerous situation. It's the kind of sudden weather change New Hampshire motorists should prepare for as Thanksgiving approaches Thursday, Nov. 26.
According to the National Weather Service NWS , these intense bursts of snowfall, officially known as snow squalls and sometimes described as "micro blizzards," can produce gusty winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions.
Unlike prolonged winter storms, snow squalls can develop quickly, leaving drivers little time to react.
New Hampshire Highways Where Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 93, connecting Manchester, Concord, Plymouth and Lincoln, is a major travel corridor where sudden winter weather can create hazardous driving conditions.
Interstate 89 near Concord and Lebanon, Interstate 95 along the Seacoast and U.S. Route 302 through the White Mountains also face winter driving risks.
Motorists traveling through Merrimack, Grafton, Carroll, Belknap and Coos counties should monitor changing forecasts, particularly when snow showers and gusty winds are possible.
Mountain passes, exposed roadways and higher elevations can experience rapidly changing visibility.
What Happens When a Snow Squall Warning Is Issued? The NWS issues Snow Squall Warnings when dangerous snow squalls are occurring or imminent.
Warnings generally last 30 to 60 minutes and may trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible mobile phones.
Sudden whiteouts at highway speeds can increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, especially when drivers brake abruptly or follow too closely.
What Thanksgiving Travelers Should Do If a Snow Squall Warning is issued, the safest option is to delay travel until conditions improve .
Drivers already traveling should gradually reduce speed, increase following distance, activate low beam headlights and avoid sudden braking.
If visibility deteriorates, safely exit the highway when possible rather than stopping in an active travel lane.
Before departing, check New England 511 for road conditions and NWS Gray, Maine for official forecasts and warnings covering much of New Hampshire.
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a prediction that snow squalls will strike New Hampshire during the holiday. Recognizing these fast moving winter hazards could help motorists make safer decisions before dangerous conditions develop.