Portland, Maine – Drivers across Maine could wake up to slick roads before sunrise Thursday as light overnight snow briefly coats surfaces, but temperatures climbing 15 to 20 degrees above normal will melt most accumulation by midday.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, Maine enters an active pattern from Thursday through Tuesday with a 40 to 50 percent higher chance of above-normal precipitation. That signal stretches from the Carolinas through the Mid-Atlantic and into New England, placing the Pine Tree State squarely in a wetter-than-average corridor to close out February.
For Maine, that means fast-moving systems capable of producing light snow at night, followed by rain showers or melting during the day as highs climb well into the 40s and even low 50s in southern counties. Average highs in Portland this time of year sit in the lower 30s. Bangor and Augusta could see similar swings, with early slick spots on I-95 and Route 1 giving way to wet pavement before the afternoon commute.
While the warmer air suggests winter is losing its grip, colder air still lingers to the west. Northern New England may see brief bursts of mixed precipitation if temperatures dip after sunset. Residents should clear storm drains, monitor local advisories and use caution during early-morning travel when pavement temperatures remain below freezing.
This broader pattern includes above-normal temperatures across much of the eastern United States, while cooler-than-average air holds across parts of the West Coast. In Maine, the milder stretch continues through early next week, though additional advisories could be issued if stronger systems develop. Winter may not be officially over, but spring is making a determined push.
