MAINE, USA — Today is all about location. Central and eastern Maine has seen nothing so far, while "round one" is dropping 3 to 6 inches already over much of York and Cumberland counties.
Off and on light snow continues in western Maine today. When the precipitation lightens up, it may fall in the form of sleet (ice pellets) or light freezing rain, especially in York county. There will be quite a bit of icing today in southern New Hampshire.
During the late afternoon, the snow will start to move into central Maine. While it won't be falling at a fast rate, the snow and sleet will make for icy travel in western and parts of central Maine by Monday evening.
"Round two" of the storm really gets going tonight.
Snow finally makes it into Bangor between 9 p.m. and midnight tonight.
The heaviest of the second round falls Tuesday morning. It'll be a mess near and along the coast with sleet and freezing rain mixing in. I have a feeling temperatures at ground level will have a hard time warming above freezing, while it's warm enough aloft for rain. That'll mean rain falls and freezes on contact. Plain rain will be limited to the immediate coast, islands and parts of York county.
Farther inland, especially through the foothills and mountains, there will be bursts of heavy snow. Snow may fall at the rate of 1" per hour for a time Tuesday morning.
Everything comes to an end in southern Maine between late morning and early afternoon.
In eastern and northern Maine, the precipitation lightens up during the late afternoon and early evening. Even there, the heavy stuff will be over by New Year's Eve.
Storm total snow accumulations: A sloppy 1-3" over the eastern Midcoast and Downeast coast, due to the mixing. 3-6" in Bangor, Waterville and Augusta, where snow will only fall in the second round of the storm.
Combine both rounds, Lewiston ends up with 6-10". Portland around 6". Interior York and much of Cumberland county, 6-10". The western mountains and Saco River Valley will do quite well with over 10" total.
Keith and Jess will have updates this afternoon and tonight, stay with us.