A strong winter storm is ready to blanket massive parts of Maine with heavy snowfall and robust winds, prompting the Nationwide Climate Service to difficulty Winter Storm Warnings for 9 counties throughout the state as circumstances are anticipated to deteriorate from Sunday night time into Tuesday morning.
In line with the NWS workplaces in Caribou and Grey, snow accumulations starting from 5 to 14 inches are forecast throughout affected areas, with the best totals anticipated in elements of southwest Maine. Coastal and inside Downeast areas might see between 7 and 11 inches, whereas parts of coastal York and Cumberland counties might obtain as much as 14 inches.
The warning for southern Penobscot, inside Hancock, central Washington, coastal Hancock, coastal Washington and northern Washington counties will stay in impact from 7 a.m. Monday by way of 7 a.m. Tuesday. Forecasters anticipate heavy snow accompanied by wind gusts reaching 50 mph alongside the Downeast coast and as much as 40 mph inland, creating blowing snow and sharply decreased visibility.
“Journey might be very troublesome. Areas of blowing snow might considerably cut back visibility,” the Nationwide Climate Service stated in its pressing winter climate message. The company added that hazardous circumstances are prone to influence each the Monday morning and night commutes.
Additional south and west, counties together with Androscoggin, Kennebec, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox are additionally underneath Winter Storm Warnings starting late Sunday night time or early Monday morning. Snowfall totals in these areas are projected between 5 and 10 inches, with wind gusts as much as 45 mph in some coastal communities.
In southwest Maine, together with inside and coastal York and Cumberland counties, the storm is predicted to reach earlier, with warnings taking impact at 7 p.m. Sunday and persevering with by way of 10 p.m. Monday. These areas face the potential for the best snowfall totals — between 7 and 14 inches — together with intervals of heavy snow bands able to speedy accumulation.
Forecasters warning that average to heavy snowfall charges mixed with gusty winds will result in harmful driving circumstances statewide. Whereas the specter of widespread energy outages is taken into account restricted, robust gusts might break tree limbs and blow round unsecured objects.
The system is forecast to maneuver by way of the area from southwest to northeast, intensifying in a single day Sunday and persisting by way of Monday. Blowing snow alongside coastal areas might considerably cut back visibility, notably throughout peak journey instances.
Officers are urging residents to contemplate suspending nonessential journey. “Individuals ought to contemplate delaying all journey. Motorists ought to use excessive warning if journey is totally essential,” the climate service suggested.
Drivers who have to be on the highway are inspired to hold emergency provides, together with further meals, water and flashlights, in case they turn out to be stranded. Up to date highway circumstances can be found by way of Maine’s 511 system at newengland511.org.
Because the storm approaches, authorities proceed to observe its observe and depth. Residents are suggested to remain knowledgeable of the newest forecasts and put together for quickly altering circumstances as heavy snow and robust winds sweep throughout Maine.
