Big Storms in Northern New Hampshire: A Simple Explanation of Tuesday’s Weather

What Happened on Tuesday?

On Tuesday, some scary weather (like strong, possibly dangerous storms) was expected in the northern part of New Hampshire—a state in the USA that is also nicknamed the "Granite State" because it has lots of rocky hills. A local news team called News 9 went out to follow the skies and tell everyone what was going on.

What the News 9 Team Saw Early in the Evening

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the News 9 crew was in a town called Columbia. They were sitting inside their special storm-following vehicle (called the Storm Watch 9 Storm Tracker—think of it as a car built to watch bad weather). Here is what they noticed:

• Heavy rain (lots of water falling from the sky)
• Flashes of lightning (the bright zig-zag light in the clouds)
• Sounds of hail (tiny balls of ice that fall during some storms) hitting the roof of their vehicle
• In another town called Lancaster, they saw dark, heavy clouds before weather experts announced a severe thunderstorm watch (that’s a fancy way of saying: “Heads up! A dangerous storm might show up soon, so pay attention!”)

When the Storm Got Calmer

As the night went on, the noisy and wet weather in Lancaster started to relax around 10 p.m. The rain, thunder, and noticeable lightning that had been around became much calmer.

Storm Chasers Came to Visit the North

Because the weather system could bring:

• Severe thunderstorms (big, angry storms with lots of rain and lightning)
• High winds (very strong gusts of air)
• Even tornadoes (spinny funnel clouds that can knock things over)

Some special people called storm chasers (folks who drive toward storms to watch and help) came to northern New Hampshire.

Callout – Important Point: Storm chasers aren’t just there to look! They said they were ready to share what they saw with others and give first aid (simple helpful medicine or care) if someone got hurt by the storm.

One storm chaser named Henry Swenson, who came from Massachusetts (a nearby state), said:

"I definitely knew that today was going to be like a legitimate threat."

Another chaser, Griffin Klien from Maine, explained what he carried:

"Right now, I have a chainsaw and a first aid kit with me for this. But I usually carry the chainsaw at all times, but I usually bulk up my med kit for chases because you never know what you’re going to see."

This means they bring tools to cut fallen trees and kits to help with boo-boos, just in case.

What Went On in Jefferson

In a town called Jefferson, the storm brought:

• Heavy rain
• Lightning strikes (lightning touching the ground)

The storm then moved toward the south. Because of the rain and strong winds, it was hard to see far away (we call this “visibility was difficult” — like trying to look down a foggy, wet street and not seeing the end).

There is a video in the original news piece showing Jefferson and nearby areas from the news crew. (Imagine a video player right below this section!)

How You Can Stay Weather-Aware (Like a Grown-Up Helper)

The article reminds everyone to be smart about weather. Here are easy numbered steps to get alerts on your phone or TV:

1. Download the WMUR app (WMUR is the news station, like News 9) using this link: Download WMUR app.
2. Turn on push notifications (let the app pop up messages on your screen).
3. Choose your alert areas: You can pick your phone’s location and up to three ZIP codes (those are the number tags for mail areas).
4. Get rain warnings: The app will tell you when precipitation (that’s any water falling from the sky, like rain) is coming to your spot.

Also, you can watch storm coverage for free on your smart TV using the Very Local app: Get Very Local app.

And you can follow the Storm Watch 9 team on social media to see more updates.

Callout – Stay Safe: Always listen to weather alerts and find a safe place when big storms come!

Summary

On Tuesday, northern New Hampshire faced threatening weather. News 9 tracked heavy rain, lightning, and hail in Columbia and dark clouds in Lancaster. Later, Lancaster’s weather calmed by 10 p.m. Storm chasers from other states arrived with chainsaws and first-aid kits to help and observe. Jefferson saw heavy rain and lightning with low visibility as the storm went south. Everyone is encouraged to use the WMUR app, Very Local app, and social media to stay updated and safe.

FAQ

Q1: What is a “severe thunderstorm watch”?
A: It’s a heads-up from weather experts that the conditions are right for a dangerous storm with lots of rain, wind, or lightning. It means “watch out, a bad storm might happen,” so be ready.

Q2: Who are storm chasers and why do they go to storms?
A: Storm chasers are people who travel to where storms are happening. They want to see the storm up close, share what they see with others (like news teams), and help injured people with first aid if needed.

Q3: What does “visibility was difficult” mean?
A: It means because of the heavy rain and wind, it was hard for people to see things far away—like if you try to look down a rainy street and can’t see the end.

Q4: How can I get weather alerts for my area?
A: You can download the WMUR app, turn on notifications, and pick your location or ZIP codes. The app will send you a message when rain or storms are near.

Q5: What is the “Granite State”?
A: That’s just a nickname for New Hampshire, the state where this storm happened, because it has lots of granite rock.