A woman crosses Fore Street in Portland on Sunday evening. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
Forecasters expect a major snowstorm to hit Maine, dumping up to two feet of fluffy flakes from Sunday afternoon until Monday night.
Snow began to fall gently around 2 p.m., as was predicted by the National Weather Service in Gray. Heavier flurries were expected to start Sunday evening.
Between 7 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, snow accumulation was expected to reach two inches of snow per hour, especially near the coast. Snow will continue to fall throughout Monday at a lighter rate, forecasters said.
Southern Maine and the coast was predicted to get between 18-24 inches of snow in total. Interior Maine was likely to see 12-18 inches of snowfall.
Temperatures hovering just above zero across most of the state will impact the accumulation and volume of the falling snow.
“With the cold air already in place, the snow is going to stick pretty much immediately as it starts,” said Stephen Baron, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. “It’s going to be a much fluffier snow, too.”
Baron said with the frigid temperatures the state is experiencing, ice is not expected to accumulate — just snow. This difference likely means Maine will not see power outages as a result of this winter storm, he said.
Travel is expected to be challenging on Monday. Forecasted winds of 25-30 mph will blow the light flakes, reducing visibility for anyone driving. Roadways are not expected to be fully cleared for most of the day.
Gov. Janet Mills urged Mainers to act carefully when facing deep snow and extreme cold.
“Maine people are used to cold winter weather, but these conditions still require caution,” said Mills in a statement released on Sunday afternoon.
The governor announced she will close all state offices Monday.
“I encourage everyone to take the forecast seriously, take precautions, limit travel if possible, and give plenty of room to our snow fighters and first responders working to keep our roads and communities safe,” she said.
In Portland, city officials announced a parking ban on Sunday morning for Sunday and Monday nights and closed administrative buildings and City Hall on Monday. Portland Public Schools announced a closure on Monday.
A list of school, business and government closures and cancellations is available online through the Portland Press Herald.
A list of warming centers operated by municipalities and organizations can be found at the Maine Emergency Management Agency’s website.
