One wind system heaves to the east, another one heads this way

Stormy weather marches toward the Midcoast: ‘Major snow,’ meteorologists say

Tue, 03/06/2018 - 12:00pm

    MIDCOAST — As the winds from the powerful weekend storm finally simmer down, and clouds dissipate, another storm is bearing down. The Midcoast is under a winter storm warning, as the next system roils across the country and then up from the mid-Atlantic. And it is apparently going to drift back and forth from the Maritimes to the Maine mountains.

    "The low will slowly continue northeast into the Maritimes Thursday then drift back to the west over northern Maine Thursday night and Friday," according to the National Weather Service, in Gray. "A trough of low pressure will linger over the area Friday night and Saturday."

    The action is to start Wednesday afternoon, as low pressure sinks southeast of the Gulf of Maine. The clear skies will continue through 6 a.m. Wednesday and then clouds will come, bringing, “major snow," said the NWS.

     Institute the drill:

    Fill bathtubs, locate the shovel, get flashlights ready, stay off the roads and away from plows, and....

    Enjoy the snow! 

    "Increasing frontogenesis will already be ramping up the forcing for ascent Wed afternoon, but as the mid level lows deepen deformation will be increasing along and NW of their path. This will likely lead to some intense banding for interior parts of New England," meteorologists said, in their 9:30 a.m., March 6, report from Gray.

    Depending on flow, the Midcoast could get some rain, while western Maine is to get snow in the double-digit amounts.

    But, they warn, that rain will likely flip back to heavy snow by Wednesday evening.

    Then, there is the wind — 30 to 40 mph gusts anticipated. Heavy wet snow, heavy wind.

    The storm warning, as issued March 6, advises: "A strong coastal storm will develop south of New England and move into the Gulf of Maine Wednesday evening into Thursday. Snow is expected to spread north across the region during the afternoon and evening Wednesday. There is some potential for the snow to mix with rain at the coast as precipitation begins on Wednesday. Snow will become heavy Wednesday evening and overnight with dangerous travel conditions expected. The storm will weaken and drift west Thursday, but snowfall may linger, especially in the mountains, until Friday. There is high confidence that a large portion of the forecast area will see 10 or more inches of snowfall, with the highest totals near 20 inches."

    "It does not look like we are putting winter to bed just yet," said the NWS, in Gray.

    The coastal flooding, thanks in part due to the recent full moon and astronomical high tides, has diminished over the last few days. But within another system coming, here's what NWS said: "With residual tide anomaly expected to linger thru midweek and the approach of another significant coastal storm...another round of splash over and erosion appears likely. At this time coastal flooding is not expected...but if storm surge values increase some locations may approach flood stage Wed night.

     

    The forecast, as of noon, March 6:

    This Afternoon
    Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. 
     
    Tonight
    Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. 
     
    Wednesday
    A chance of snow between 11am and 2pm, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. 
     
    Wednesday Night
    Snow. Low around 33. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible. 
     
    Thursday
    Snow before 2pm, then rain and snow. High near 35. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. 
     
    Thursday Night
    Snow showers likely, possibly mixing with rain after 8pm, then gradually ending. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
     
    Friday
    A chance of rain and snow showers after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
     
    Friday Night
    A chance of rain and snow showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
     
    Saturday
    A chance of rain and snow showers after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
     
    Saturday Night
    A chance of rain and snow showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
     
    Sunday
    Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.
    Sunday Night
    Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
    Monday
    A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 30%.