A quick-moving system will bring a few hours of intense rain and wind to Maine tonight.
Unfortunately, we're looking at yet another power outage threat.
As Mike pointed out in his blog yesterday, we have the benefit of fewer leaves on the trees now that we're well into November. However, the wind will be coming out of the south, a direction which often causes problems for us.
Today is starting sunny, but it won't last. Clouds will increase and thicken ahead of tonight's storm. The afternoon will turn cloudy with temperatures only in the 40s.
Just after sunset, some showers will move into western Maine. These showers may briefly start as snow in the mountains, but even there a flip to rain is expected. The rain becomes heavier overnight, and with that will come a period of strong winds for a few hours around midnight. Gusts between 40 and 50 mph are likely to cause some outages.
It would be a good idea to charge up your electronics and secure any outdoor patio furniture and decorations, just in case.
The strongest wind gusts will be for a few hours, generally between 9 p.m and 2 a.m.
Generally speaking, gusts to 45 mph are known to cause isolated outages. Issues become more frequent when gusts top 50 mph, which is the expectation near the coast.
Gusts of this strength would be enough to snap tree limbs and branches, causing power outages.
It's a quick-moving system though, so by early Monday morning the damaging wind gusts will be over. It will remain gusty, but additional outages aren't expected Monday.
Stay tuned and check in with Mike tonight for updates.
