Portland, ME – Heavy snow continues across Maine and New Hampshire early this morning as a widespread winter storm brings plowable snowfall, low visibility, and difficult travel for those heading out before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Gray and Caribou, Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect until 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, depending on the region. Storm totals range from 4 to 9 inches across coastal and interior Maine, with 6 to 9 inches common across interior southwestern and western Maine, southern Somerset and Franklin counties, and central/northern New Hampshire. Farther east, the Caribou office reports additional accumulations up to 2 inches for Penobscot, Hancock, and Washington counties through early morning.
Forecasters warn that moderate to heavy snowbands have developed overnight, creating areas of rapid accumulation and visibility below one mile. This has produced dangerous driving conditions from the White Mountains and Lakes Region through Augusta, Lewiston, Waterville, Fryeburg, Bethel, Rumford, Farmington, Sanford, Exeter, Rochester, Concord, and into Bangor, Orono, Calais, and Princeton farther north.
Roads remain snow-covered in many areas, and hazardous conditions will linger into the Wednesday morning commute, even as snowfall begins to taper between 4 and 7 a.m. Officials urge residents to delay travel if possible, warning that even light snowfall can quickly accumulate on untreated surfaces.
Those who must travel should reduce speed, leave extra distance between vehicles, and prepare for sudden drops in visibility.
