A storm forecast to visit Lincoln County beginning Tuesday afternoon will bring high winds and heavy rainfall, along with the possibility of flooding, according to the National Weather Service. The combination of rainfall and wind could bring down tree limbs and power lines, leading to power outages, according to the NWS.
Winds should begin to increase steadily beginning mid-day, reaching gusts of 50 mph with sustained velocities of 20 to 30 mph, especially in coastal areas, according to the NWS.
Rainfall intensity should also increase steadily as the day progresses.
The highest winds and heaviest rainfall are forecast for the late night hours, according to the NWS. The storm should wind down in the early morning hours of Wednesday and may end with snow or ice before moving out, according to the NWS.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and ending at 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
A Flood Watch previously issued by the NWS remains in effect through Wednesday. Snow melt off combined with the heavy rainfall is expected to bring the possibility of flooding on local rivers and streams. The upper Kennebec River is expected to breach its banks in the Augusta area, according to reports. Worse flooding in that area and downstream through Lincoln County may have been avoided due to United States Coast Guard ice breaking activities on the river, which reduced the possibility of ice jams.
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this event and post any additional information here as soon as it is obtained.
