Dig out the mittens and windshield scrapers and bring in the chrysanthemums: The possibility of snowflakes Saturday will be followed by frost statewide Monday morning.

“There could be snow showers in the mountains during the day (Saturday), and I can’t rule out a snow flurry even down to the coast tomorrow afternoon as the cold air starts funneling in,” Tom Hawley of the National Weather Service in Gray said on Friday.

While several parts of the state have seen subfreezing temperatures already this fall – Hawley said he’s had four frosts at his home in Hollis – some parts of Maine have yet to feel the bite.

“The entire state will see a freeze, so any place that hasn’t seen any frost yet might be seeing the end of their growing season,” Hawley said. “We’ll probably be down into the 20s everywhere Monday morning.”

Portland’s first frost is usually around Oct. 4, so this year is later than normal, he said. Last year, however, Portland’s first frost wasn’t until Nov. 4.

Only the western and far northern parts of the state are likely to see any accumulation of snow, with Eustis in Franklin County forecast to receive between 1 and 2 inches Saturday night into Sunday, Hawley said.

“Sugarloaf could get some accumulating snow, especially the top of the peaks. We can’t rule it out at Sunday River,” Hawley said, referring to the forecast for Sunday.

Sunday River plans to take advantage of the cold snap to make snow in anticipation of opening for skiing on Monday. Skiing in October makes a golf and ski weekend a possibility.


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