We’re due for a big snow event. It’s time to replenish the snow pack which has diminished in southern and central areas, and we’ll do that Wednesday.
The storm will be quick-moving but pack a punch. It will be about 12 hours long; it starts around noon Wednesday and ends around midnight.
Schools may face a somewhat challenging decision because Wednesday’s morning commute will be mostly dry. Early dismissals may be sufficient in many towns, especially farther east, but a full school day will be tough to get in.
There may be some flurries or snow showers that develop in the morning, but the steady snow arrives between 10 a.m. and noon Wednesday in western Maine; between noon and 3 p.m. in eastern Maine.
The snow will become heavy during the afternoon. Driving conditions will be terrible in many areas from mid-afternoon through the evening. Snow bands will drop an inch or more per hour at times. There won’t be much wind with this storm, which will help prevent blowing and drifting snow.
The real forecast question at the moment is how far north the mixing will make it. At the moment, it appears a change to rain is possible, especially in Down East Maine, but that change will happen after several inches of snow are already on the ground. Near the coast in southern and southwestern Maine, a change to freezing rain is possible, which will add an icy glaze on top of the snow Wednesday evening.
The storm will end around midnight Wednesday. We’ll be in clean-up mode Thursday morning, but the storm will be long gone and there won’t be any snow falling at that point.
In total, this looks like a widespread 6- to 12-inch snowstorm. Mixing will limit amounts on the Down East coast (closer to 6 inches there).
There should be many towns from interior York and Oxford counties through central Maine that pick up double-digit totals.
The snow will have a bit of a wetter consistency near the coast, but it should be fluffier farther inland.
Stay with NEWS CENTER Maine for updates on-air and online.
Ryan Breton
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @RyanBretonWX
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