Tuesday Storm

Tuesday will be a dynamic weather day here in Vacationland.  Our next storm system will bring a variety of different types of precipitation throughout the day and winds will become strong as well.  Where we stay all snow, some totals should reach a foot.   Low pressure approaching from the west will transition energy to a second and rapidly strengthening low along the Maine coast Tuesday. A Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Warning has been issued for parts of the state.


There are a bunch of variables that will play into this forecast and here’s my best estimate of the expected evolution.

Timing:  Light snow develops 4AM-7AM Tuesday. A slow transition to wintry mix and eventually rain will take place 11 AM though 1PM along the coastal plain.  A period of freezing rain looks likely from Sebago Lake, to Lewiston Auburn, to Augusta during the afternoon. That will lead to icing and slippery travel.  The mountains should stay all snow.  Back edge of rain and mountain snow will exit between 7PM and 10 PM.

Type:  Snow to start followed by a slow change to sleet, freezing rain, and rain.  The foothills and mountains will stay mostly if not all snow and that’s where the highest totals are expected.

How Much:  The coastal plain should expect 1-3 inches before the change over.   3-6 Inches is more likely from the west side of Sebago Lake through Central Androscoggin County, to Central/Northern Kennebec County.   Rt 2 region should pick up 6-12″ and stay mostly if not all snow. Some select areas like eastern slopes of the higher peaks in the White Mountains and  Rangeley, Carrabassett Valley, Bigelow Range should get into the 8-14″ range.

Flooding: Tides are running astronomically low Tuesday. Coastal flooding is not expected to be a big concern.

Wind:  SE winds will become strong between 3PM and 7PM. Gusts over 40 mph are possible.  Scattered power outages are possible.  Wednesday will be windy as well with westerly gusts 35 to 45 MPH.

Flash Freeze:   There is the potential for a flash freeze Tuesday night after the precipitation comes to an end.  Temperatures will fall fast between 9PM and 7AM.  Wet surfaces on untreated roads will become icy.

Colder air will come rushing into the state on a stiff westerly wind Wednesday.   Wednesday will be one of those days that we’ll have highs in the morning. By afternoon the temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s with wind chills in the single digits and low teens.  The pattern looks quite and cold late week. Lows in near zero will be common for many inland communities.  A storm should pass east of our area Friday night/Saturday morning. Another storm Sunday night through Monday will need to be watched. More snow is possible. Stay tuned.

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.