Caribou, ME – Snow will begin stacking up by late Monday morning across central and Downeast Maine, with wind gusts up to 50 mph threatening near-whiteout conditions before the evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from 10 a.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday for Southern Penobscot, Interior Hancock, Central Washington and Northern Washington counties. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches are expected, with the heaviest amounts east of Bangor in communities such as Calais, Princeton and Grand Lake Stream. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph overnight Monday into early Tuesday.
Roads in Bangor, Brewer and Orono will likely turn snow-covered by late afternoon, while Route 9 between Bangor and Calais and stretches of U.S. Route 1 in Washington County could see blowing snow sharply reduce visibility. Conditions may deteriorate quickly after sunset, affecting both the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.
Strong wind gusts combined with heavy, wind-driven snow may bring down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages, especially in coastal Hancock and Washington counties.
Drivers are urged to delay unnecessary travel and monitor newengland511.org for updated road conditions. The storm will intensify Monday night, and additional advisories could follow if winds remain strong into Tuesday morning.
