2023 weather in New Hampshire marked by floods, freezes, tornado - WMUR Manchester

2023 weather in NH marked by floods, freezes, tornado

2023 weather in New Hampshire marked by floods, freezes, tornado

Certain extremes more likely as climate changes

New Hampshire weather in 2023 was marked by extraordinary flash flooding, a tornado touchdown, huge fluctuations in temperatures that caused serious problems for agriculture and other impactful events.

Most people in New Hampshire were affected in some way by extreme weather, and while it's normal to have wild weather years, some of the intense weather systems can be influenced and seen more frequently now because of climate change.

Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record. It might even fall as the warmest on record in New Hampshire, too, if this month continues to be above average.

When greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from vehicles and power plants build up in the atmosphere, they act like a thick blanket that warms the planet. The gases let in heat from the sun while also absorbing heat from the Earth, gradually increasing the temperature of the land and oceans.

The No. 1 most impactful weather event of 2023 had to be the numerous flash flooding events in June and July. Communities from the White Mountains, Lakes Region, Monadnock Region and seemingly everywhere in between were hit over and over by storms with torrential rain.

Heavy rain in the first half of summer caused millions of dollars in damage to roads in the Lakes and Monadnock regions.

July 10 brought historic flooding to Vermont and major flash flooding in New Hampshire's Upper Valley.

As more heat and energy are stored in the atmosphere and oceans, it doesn't just increase the temperature. It also increases the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. So, when it rains, it pours even more because of the additional moisture in storms.

Another big event was the tornado that traced a path from Keene to Dublin on July 27. The tornado started in North Swanzey and then touched down multiple times along a path of 13 miles east to Dublin.

It was rated an EF-1 with winds near 95 mph. There was damage in Dublin after many trees were tossed around by the tornado.

The year was also marked by a frigid weekend in February. It wasn't just the cold, but also the wind with the cold. The wind chill atop Mount Washington dropped to an all-time record of negative-109 degrees.

Many businesses and homes dealt with frozen pipe issues. The cold weekend also severely damaged fruit trees, such as peaches, which were fragile at that time. The peach crop was nearly wiped out across the state after the event.

Another temperature extreme happened on the morning of May 18, when temperatures dipped into the 20s in many southern communities.

While it wasn't the latest freeze ever, it was preceded by 90-degree days in April, which started the flowering process for fruit trees such as apples. Many local orchards suffered severe losses.

It might seem counterintuitive, but global warming can also contribute to cold snaps. That's because it alters the entire global circulation of the Earth's atmosphere. Patterns can shift more dramatically, leading to extreme temperature changes.

There weren't many big snowstorms this year, but there was a storm that dropped more than 30 inches of heavy, wet snow on the Monadnock Region in March.

Even in a warming world, New Hampshire will still get snow, sometimes more than average. But in general, winters in the region are trending warmer, which often leads to wetter storms.

Looking ahead to 2024, there likely won't be much change. News 9's meteorologists still think the winter will be warmer than average, with at or slightly below average snowfall.