Snow is rolling into Maine this morning, blanketing roads and fields as the first major December snowstorm of the season sweeps across the state. Light flakes west of Bangor are expected to intensify quickly, turning into heavy, steady snow by the afternoon commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, snow will spread from west to east through midday, continuing into the night before tapering early Wednesday. The heaviest accumulation is expected across Downeast Maine, where snowfall rates could reach one inch per hour during the evening. Coastal areas from Rockland to Bar Harbor may briefly see a mix or changeover to rain, but inland locations — including Bangor, Houlton, and Caribou — will stay all snow.
Total accumulation is forecast to range from 4 to 8 inches across central Maine and up to 10 inches in the far northeast, especially near the Canadian border. Winds will pick up slightly after sunset, creating patches of blowing snow and sharply reducing visibility on open stretches of Route 1 and I-95.
Drivers should prepare for slick and snow-covered roads, especially between 3 p.m. and midnight, when the heaviest snow and gustiest winds will coincide with dropping temperatures. Conditions may improve slowly Wednesday morning, but blowing and drifting snow could continue across northern Maine through early afternoon.
Forecasters urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, clear snow from vehicles before driving, and allow extra time for commutes or school drop-offs. Power outages are not widespread but could occur where heavy, wet snow clings to branches and lines.
Have you measured snowfall yet in your area? Share your totals and road reports as Maine’s early December snowstorm continues to unfold.
