Hello everyone!

Our storm is intensifying nicely down off the Mid Atlantic and we are certainly feeling its impacts here in Maine. Heavy snow bands are moving through the area with snow rates approaching 3″/hr in some locations with 1-2″/hr rates more common. At my location in Yarmouth, we have 6.5″ on the ground as of 5:45 and it continues to come down hard. Winds are picking up as well with many locations now reporting gusts up to 25 mph.

Conditions will continue to deteriorate over the next few hours as the storm strengthens and winds intensify. Blowing and drifting snow will become an issue as well as the evening progresses.

Confidence continues to be low as to where the mix line will set up but the storm is slightly east of the forecasted track, so the mix line may set up farther east than expected.

Temps will rise from the 20’s to the low 30’s as warm air moves in aloft and gets pushed down to the surface by heavy precipitation. Expect the snow to turn from dry and fluffy to heavy and wet as temps warm.

We may see a brief lull or break in the action in the next few hours as a dry slot tries to work its way into the area however its progress has slowed significantly so we may not have to worry about that.

Overall, I still have confidence in my snow map from this morning although amounts may be a hint low at the coast especially Downeast Maine but the change to mix should occur there shortly.

Here is the snowfall map from this morning. I still have confidence in this map so no changes were made.

I’ll be back again tomorrow morning with the normal daily forecast as well as an update on a possible snow event Saturday. As of now, that looks to be minor however some models have shown a more robust solution. More on that tomorrow.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

The main weather story today into tomorrow will be a powerful area of low pressure that will be intensifying off the coast. This will bring heavy precipitation to the region causing slick roads and messy commutes. I expect snow to start around 10 am here in Cumberland County with a start time closer to 7 or 8 for York county and later as you head NE. It will not take long after the first flakes fall for the snow to become heavy as the storm is bringing an incredible amount of moisture up the coast. With all this moisture, comes warm air and that will cause problems with mixing along the coast. Right now, the storm is slightly east of the models so expect mixing to be confined to the very immediate coastline. Coastal York, Sagadahoc, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, and Washington counties stand the best chance for mixing. Expect a period of sleet and freezing rain between 10 pm and 3 am for all areas while Downeast sections get to look forward to some plain old rain during about that time.

Here is what to expect regarding precipitation type.

As for snowfall amounts, most places can expect between 8 and 12″ of heavy wet snow as temps for most people will be in the low 30’s, while the mountains will receive 14-18″ if dry fluffy snow, what us skiers call POWDAH!

Snowfall map for today into tomorrow.

Expect snow to be heaviest this afternoon into tonight with snowfall rates approaching 2″/hr. Snow winds down Friday morning between 10 and 11 as low pressure slides east.

Winds will be a problem as well, as our storm will have roughly the same pressure as a category 2 hurricane. Also, this storm will be much closer to shore than normal nor’easters so the highest winds will be much closer to the coast. Expect winds sustained near 20 mph with gusts approaching 40 mph especially near the coast.

I’ll have another update mid-storm this afternoon.

-Jack