Here are expected snowfall amounts from the upcoming storm. These amounts could change as we get closer to the event. pic.twitter.com/YsQsQ3J44a
— NWS Gray (@NWSGray) December 28, 2016
The National Weather Service office in Gray has issued a winter storm watch for Maine from Thursday morning through Friday morning, with heavy, wet snow inland, potential rain and winds gusting up to 40 mph.
Meteorologist Chris Kimble said the storm is expected to dump about 12 inches of snow in the Lewiston-Auburn area and closer to 15 inches around Farmington, depending on the track of the strong coastal storm.
“Expect to see snow before the evening rush hour,” he said.
According to the National Weather Service, “Low pressure will develop rapidly south of New England on Thursday and move northeastward into the Gulf of Maine, Thursday night while explosively deepening. The result will likely be heavy snow across the interior and a wintry mix, as well as some heavy snow on the coastal plain and southeastern New Hampshire.”
Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 30s Thursday night.
Winds will become quite gusty as well, the NWS report said, and the combination of wind and potentially wet snow may cause power outages.
The snow will come to an end late Thursday night and Friday morning.
“The exact storm track is not yet known,” according to the NWS advisory issued Tuesday afternoon. A more westerly track would mean more rain and mixed precipitation farther inland; a more easterly track would mean heavier snows for the coast.
Municipal and state highway departments are prepared to clear thousands of miles of roads.
As for potential power outages, Central Maine Power Co. spokeswoman Gail Rice said utility officials have been watching the weather very carefully and preparing for the storm.
“Internally we have been making sure that all employees know they could be called upon to perform storm response duties,” she said. “We know that there could be some impact.”
She said CMP has also been in contact with other utilities to have their assistance if needed.
The National Weather service is advising people to monitor the latest forecast.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
