Manchester, NH – A deep chill grips the Queen City this morning as a crisp northwest wind sweeps across parking lots and rooftops glitter with frost. The air is clear now, but meteorologists say the calm won’t last — a developing wintry mix is expected to arrive by Tuesday night, marking another turn toward December’s true winter form.
According to the National Weather Service in Gray-Portland, clouds will increase through Tuesday afternoon before the first flakes appear after 8 p.m.. A light snow accumulation is possible before the system transitions to rain by midday Wednesday, with highs near 38°F. Commuters across Hillsborough County should expect slippery conditions during the morning rush, especially north of Manchester and on higher terrain toward Concord.
As the front moves out, colder air quickly returns — lows will dip into the 20s Wednesday night, falling even further by Friday morning as Arctic air sweeps in from Canada. Highs by week’s end will struggle to reach 30°F, and wind chills could fall into the teens during early commutes.
While this system won’t bring major snowfall, it signals the start of a more active winter pattern across New England and the Great Lakes, with long-range models hinting at lake-effect snow and reinforcing cold air between Dec. 11–17 — just as early holiday travel begins to pick up.
Residents are advised to check tire pressure, bundle up, and watch for black ice on bridges and shaded backroads through week’s end.
Five-Day Outlook (Manchester, NH):
- Tuesday: Increasing clouds, high 25°F.
- Wednesday: Snow and rain mix, high 38°F.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 34°F.
- Friday: Cold, chance of flurries, high 29°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high 27°F.
