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