Tuesday’s typical snowstorm is getting less and less typical

ABOVE: Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines on Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work.

ABOVE: Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines on Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff

Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines along Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work.

Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines along Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines along Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work.

Flagger Dianna St. Laurent directs traffic for a communications company that was working on lines along Route 3 in Tilton during the snowstorm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. St. Laurent traveled from Pittsfield in the snow for the work. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

TOP: Cars make their way up I-93 northbound between exit 15 and 16 during the Tuesday storm.

TOP: Cars make their way up I-93 northbound between exit 15 and 16 during the Tuesday storm.

Al True walks along Route 3 in Tilton on the way back from the store on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Al True walks along Route 3 in Tilton on the way back from the store on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

A tractor trailer gets on to the entrance ramp of I-93 southbound at exit 16 during the snow storm in Concord on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

A tractor trailer gets on to the entrance ramp of I-93 southbound at exit 16 during the snow storm in Concord on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER/ Monitor staff

Al True walks along Route 3 in Tilton on the way back from the store on Tuesday.

Al True walks along Route 3 in Tilton on the way back from the store on Tuesday.

By DAVID BROOKS

Monitor staff

Published: 01-16-2024 4:34 PM

Modified: 01-16-2024 5:26 PM

New Hampshire got a typical winter snowstorm Tuesday, complete with school cancellations and slick roads, which isn’t all that typical any more.

Most of the state saw snow falling from dawn to dusk in a storm that lasted longer than had been anticipated. Totals ranged from at least three inches to well over six inches, and while travel advisories were issued, few major accidents had been reported. Most schools were closed and evening events cancelled, with Wednesday’s morning commute likely to be slow.

Typical, yes? But not this year.

According to National Weather Service data, Tuesday was only the third day since the start of December that Concord has seen more than an inch of snow falling.

Even worse, Tuesday was only be the ninth day since the start of December that there has been more than an inch of snow on the ground, since past snowfalls have repeatedly been washed away by warm rain. In other words, for four out of every five days in the first half of New Hampshire’s winter the ground has been bare, which is about as far from Currier & Ives as you can get.

This week’s cold snap means this snow should stick around at least through the presidential primary, which is good. It would be embarrassing to see pictures of candidates glad-handing voters without piles of snow in the background.