New Hampshire primary 2016: Snow may slick roads as voters head to polls on Tuesday

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

February 5,2016; 10:10PM,EST

 

 

Cold, snow and windy weather is in store for the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday.
Earlier this week, cold, snow and blizzard conditions struck the central United States amid the Iowa caucuses, but determined voters from Iowa's 99 counties still ventured out into the elements in order to select the state representative for the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
While wintry weather may have hampered a few voters at this week's Iowa caucuses, the first nomination step in the 2016 Presidential Election season, it is unlikely to deter more than a few New Hampshire voters during the first primary election set for Tuesday, Feb. 9.
In a recent AccuWeather poll, 70 percent of people who weighed in said that inclement weather would not deter them from voting.
The exact track and intensity of a winter storm early next week will spread light snow across New Hampshire during the primary elections. Should the storm track closer to the coast, heavier snow could occur on election day across the state.
"It looks windy and quite chilly next Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Edwards said, referring to New Hampshire weather conditions. "A big dip in the jet stream will lead to the cold conditions."
Volunteers for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton carry a large "Hillary" sign into Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, N.H., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, Clinton's first day in New Hampshire after winning the Iowa Caucus. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s.
While the snow may have some impact on voter turnout in election years, it is usually the air temperature that affects people the most when making the decision to head to the polls, according to Rosemary Radich, AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions business intelligence manager.

"We probably won't see a big suppression," Radich said, adding that temperatures in the low 20s, and only the threat of snow is unlikely to make any significant impact on Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.
According to Radich, women are more likely to be influenced by low temperatures than men.
"It really seems to be how cold it is," she said.
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Low temperatures, especially those below zero, have a major impact on voter turnout for both women, and younger voters aging from 18-34, according to research conducted by AccuWeather Business Intelligence Manager and Meteorologist Tim Loftus.
"The younger group is definitely more susceptible [to inclement weather]," Loftus said.
Loftus utilized L2 as a resource when conducting his research, which included analyzing weather trends and voter data to election seasons dating as far back as 1996.
However, voter turnout really depends on a variety of other factors including what the enthusiasm is for the candidates, how close the race is and the candidates' campaign, Radich added, stating that severe or unpleasant weather is just an additional factor that mostly deters swing voters.
"It really impacts those who already are on the fence," she added.
Following Tuesday's primary, Feb. 20 will kick off the caucuses in Nevada, with the Democratic caucus held Saturday and the Republican caucus set for Tuesday, Feb. 23.