Portland, Maine – Maine residents are being urged to stay prepared as a prolonged stretch of cold weather keeps the door open for additional snowstorms through the heart of February, just weeks after one of the most disruptive winter systems of the season buried much of the country.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across Maine are expected to remain below normal during the Feb. 7–20 period, increasing the likelihood that any incoming systems produce snow rather than rain. Long-range outlooks also show equal to elevated chances for above-normal precipitation, a combination that raises concern for periods of heavy snow.
The alert follows the recent impacts of Winter Storm Fern, which swept from Texas to Maine and affected more than two dozen states. The storm dropped nearly two feet of snow in parts of New York and New England, while widespread totals of more than a foot were documented from Texas through the Mid-Atlantic. In Maine, Fern snarled travel, forced school closures, and led to scattered power outages as heavy, wind-driven snow piled up.
With cold air expected to linger statewide, communities from Portland and Bangor to Aroostook County could see similar hazards if strong systems track across the region again. Transportation officials warn that repeated snowfall could strain road crews, while emergency managers are encouraging residents to review winter safety plans, restock supplies, and avoid unnecessary travel during storms.
Forecasters stress that while the exact timing of any one storm cannot yet be pinned down, the overall pattern supports continued winter threats. Additional advisories and warnings may be issued as confidence increases, and residents are encouraged to monitor updates closely through mid-February as winter shows little sign of loosening its grip on Maine.
