UPDATE: Lewiston and Auburn schools delay starts by two hours Monday morning.
Hold on to your hats, folks.
Although the brunt of tropical storm Philippe will have passed by Monday morning, southern Maine can still expect rain showers and winds into the evening, according to the National Weather Service office in Gray.
NWS meteorologist Margaret Curtis said it’s a pretty quick moving storm, with the heavy rain and high wind gusts mainly overnight.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for southern Maine effective at 8 p. m. Sunday until 2 p.m. Monday and a high wind warning from midnight until 11 a.m. Monday.
Winds 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts up t0 55 mph, increasing late Sunday evening into Monday morning.
One to three inches of rain are forecast for southern and central Maine. Curtis said the chance for flooding is higher because of heavy rain falling so quickly.
“We probably wouldn’t notice if it was the same amount over a few days,” she said.
Rain showers and slower winds will continue into Monday evening, but the heavy parts of the storm should pass by late morning, Curtis said.
Area rivers could get high, and some could even flood.
The flash flood warning is also in effect because of the heavy rain, and because many sewers and drains could be blocked by leaves and debris, according to the National Weather Service.
Before a storm or flood, ready.gov recommends the following:
• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
• If feasible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building and seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
If flash flooding occurs, secure your home and do not touch wet electrical equipment. If you need to leave, do not walk in moving water and do not drive into flooded areas.
Damaging winds may result in downed trees and power lines, with possible widespread power outages.
A news release from Central Maine Power said they have been monitoring weather forecasts and are prepared for a storm that could bring high winds and heavy rain to Maine Sunday night and Monday.
“CMP’s storm readiness teams have been holding planning meetings, and the company is pre-positioning personnel and equipment to ensure that adequate resources are in place to restore power outages that might occur as a result of the storm,” the release said.
CMP is coordinating its preparations with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management personnel.
If you lose power, CMP offers the following tips:
• When using an emergency heating source, like a wood stove, fireplace, or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly.
• Never use grills or camp stoves indoors — they can give off dangerous gases.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours or longer if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.
• Turn off or unplug major appliances to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored.
CMP also urges people to stay clear of downed power lines.
Flash Flood Watch goes into effect this evening and extends through Monday afternoon. (Charlie Lopresti/WGME)
A USA TODAY article described the nor’easter fueled by Tropical Storm Phillippe as a near weather bomb – ot bombogenesis.
It occurs when a storm intensifies rapidly, generally due to a cold continental air mass colliding with warm air from over the ocean. It’s usually a winter phenomenon, when the difference between temperatures over land and the ocean are greater.
AccuWeather meteorologist Evan Duffey told USA TODAY, “There will probably not be quite enough of a pressure drop to technically qualify this as bombogenesis, but we are seeing a lot of the same things. The storm is eating Philippe’s moisture, and it’s strengthening.”
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