Eastern Maine Expected To Be Hit Hardest By Early November Storm

Rain, snow, and wind will lead headlines going into the weekend. All eyes remain on the track and intensity of a strengthening storm.   Wind will  be one major variable with gusts as high as 55 mph possible on Sunday.  Our strongest winds will likely occur over the eastern part of Maine from Penobscot Bay – Downeast.  Gusts of 35 to 45 mph will be common for the rest of the area.
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Precipitation timing, intensity, and type should be another adventure in this forecast.  A deep trough of low pressure has been carved out by the Jetstream along the eastern half of the US.  It’s strong for this time of year, and will result in a sizable storm along the eastern seaboard.  It’s looking like the precipitation will come in two distinctive burst  as two surface areas of low pressure track north. The first will bring a period of rain to the area during the course of the day Saturday.
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The only chance for snow early in the weekend will be over the higher elevations over 1500 feet.  Winds will become gusty but not extreme out of the northeast.   Colder temperatures will filter into the area Saturday night into Sunday. A transition from rain to snow will occur from north to south during that period.
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Accumulations should not be much southern  Maine but a few to several inches are possible with higher amounts Central Maine, Midcoast, and Mountains.  Over a half foot is possible for portions of eastern and northern Maine through Sunday.
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Snow map developed Saturday morning. Stay tuned for updates through the weekend.

Winds will remain strong late in the weekend and power  outages are possible. Sunday night will most likely be the coldest night of the season so far with most towns dipping into the 20s.  Temperatures will moderate next week.

Stay tuned to the forecast through  the weekend as changes are very much possible as the storm evolves and we get a better idea of it’s track, timing, and intensity.

Charlie Lopresti-Chief Meteorologist CBS 13 Portland Maine.

Timing:  A cold rain arrives on Saturday.  A changeover to snow will happen Saturday night into Sunday and then we’ll be left with snow over eastern zones Sunday.

Precip Type:  We start as a cold rain on Saturday with the higher elevations in the mountains seeing a mix of rain and snow.  During Saturday night we see the rain change to snow first in the north and mountains, then the hills, and eventually all the way to the coast by morning.

Snow Amount:  Generally light accumulations with a coating to 2″ possible south. Several inches are possible central Maine and interior mid-coast.  Parts of eastern and northern Maine could see a half foot to to a foot through Sunday. The combo to snow and wind may lead to near blizzard conditions there.

Wind:  Winds will become strong and gusty Saturday night and Sunday with frequent gusts between 30 mph and 50 mph.  Penobscot Bay -Downeast may experience some higher gusts.  Power outages are possible.

Charlie Lopresti

About Charlie Lopresti

Charlie makes up the "Weather Part" of CBS News 13s evening edition. A native New Englander, he grew up enjoying the area's exciting and sometimes wild weather.