Two bulletins have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in regards to a wind and rain storm that has left a path of watery devastation as it chugged across the country and is now expected in Lincoln County beginning early Mon. morning.
A Flood Watch and a High Wind Watch were both issued by the NWS Sun. morning.
The Flood Watch is in effect from Mon. morning through Tues. morning and warns that heavy rainfall combined with snowmelt could result in flooding Mon. and Mon. night, according to the NWS.
The High Wind Watch is in effect from Mon. morning to Mon. evening, and winds from the southeast are forecast to have a sustained velocity of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph, according to the NWS.
The event is forecast to begin late Sun. night with mixed precipitation. As low pressure pushes warm air into Lincoln County, the precipitation will turn to rainfall and become steady, falling heavily at times, according to the NWS. Temps are forecast to remain unseasonably high, ranging into the mid 40’s during this period.
At this time, between 1-3 inches of rainfall is expected Mon. into Mon. evening, according to the NWS. The rainfall and snow could create runoff, bringing the threat of flooding to low-lying areas and roads. Residents are encouraged to check their drainage areas to ensure they are clear of snow and ice.
Flooding from rivers is unlikely, according to the NWS, as most rivers in Maine are frozen. However, runoff combined with tides may affect tidal rivers such as the Sheepscot and the Damariscotta. Fortunately the high tides for Mon. are relatively mild, with 9.4 forecast for 6 a.m. and an 8.0 forecast for 6:44 p.m. The high tide on Tues. could be a bit more troublesome, with a height of 9.8 feet at 7:01 a.m. combined with continued runoff from sources upriver and high temps above the freezing mark allowing for melting. (Tide information is for Wiscasset and obtained from www.maineboatsandharbors.com.)
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this weather event and post any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
