Caribou, ME – A significant winter storm will bring heavy, wet snow and gusty winds to DownEast Maine and the Penobscot Valley beginning late Tuesday morning, with hazardous travel conditions stretching into early Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday for Southern Penobscot, Interior Hancock, Central Washington, Coastal Hancock, and Coastal Washington counties. Snowfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are expected, with the heaviest rates developing around midnight Tuesday night.
Forecasters warn that winds may gust up to 35 mph, increasing the risk of blowing and drifting snow across interior DownEast communities and the Bangor region. Along the coast—from Bar Harbor to Machias and Eastport—heavy, wet snow could lead to isolated power outages as it weighs on trees and powerlines. Some mixing with rain is also possible Tuesday afternoon and evening near immediate shoreline areas.
According to the NWS, roads will become slippery quickly Tuesday afternoon and evening, with hazardous travel expected to affect both the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Visibility may drop sharply during heavier bursts of snow.
Communities including Bangor, Brewer, Orono, Ellsworth, Bucksport, Princeton, Calais, and Cherryfield should prepare for difficult travel, especially overnight as winds increase and snow begins to drift.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel. If travel is required, officials recommend carrying an emergency kit, slowing down, and monitoring updated road conditions at NewEngland511.org.
