Snowfall is forecast to move in slowly during the overnight hours, leaving several inches of accumulation by daylight on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is forecast to intensify during the morning hours and through mid-day, with warnings of snowfall rates in excess of one inch per hour, and northerly winds at sustained speeds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
The good news is that the temps during this storm will stay well below freezing, making for light “fluffy” snowflakes less capable of bringing down tree limbs and wires than the heavy, wet type of snow seen in recent storms, according to the NWS.
However, Central Maine Power Company has taken steps to prepare for the possibility of outages during the storm. Utility trucks have been equipped and fueled, and key CMP personnel are holding periodic pre-storm planning sessions to discuss staffing levels and finalize storm-response plans, according to CMP.
“We’ve put our storm response plan into motion, and we’re watching the forecast closely,” said Gail Rice, spokesperson for CMP. “High winds are always a concern, and while the snow is expected to be dry and less likely to coat tree limbs and wires, it could still create tough travel and working conditions. So we’re getting crews, equipment, and materials in place to respond.”
CMP is coordinating its storm preparation efforts with other utilities in the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group, or NAMAG. It is also lining up contract crews to assist local crews if the storm causes widespread damage. CMP is also keeping the Maine Emergency Management Agency advised on preparation efforts.
Lincoln County is under a Blizzard Warning, that went into effect at 10 p.m. Monday and will continue until 4 a.m. Wednesday. “Snow will spread into the area… And will likely be heavy at times during the day Tuesday… Winds will be strong on and near the coast… Producing blizzard conditions,” according to the NWS.
Astronomically high tides on Tuesday, ranging between 9 and 10 feet depending on the location in Lincoln County, may be pushed higher because of the strong winds and storm surge, bringing the possibility of coastal splash over, flooding and erosion. Those tides are expected to affect locations in Lincoln County first around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning and again at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening. (Note: A Coastal Flood Watch was issued Saturday at 3:49 p.m.)
After the Tuesday storm moves out, forecasters are already watching another period of unsettled weather due to arrive in Lincoln County for Friday and Saturday.
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.
