Gray, ME – Large portions of Maine and New Hampshire will face the first significant snowstorm of the season Tuesday, with heavy snow, low visibility, and dangerous travel conditions expected from the morning commute through late Tuesday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Gray, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday for a wide swath of the region—including interior Oxford, Franklin, York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Waldo, and Somerset counties, as well as much of central and southern New Hampshire. Inland areas are forecast to receive 6–9 inches of heavy snow, while coastal zones from Portland to Portsmouth may see 4–7 inches, with brief periods of mixing or rain possible near the immediate shoreline.
Forecasters warn that moderate to heavy snow, combined with falling visibility, will create dangerous driving conditions. According to the NWS, locally intense snowbands could lead to rapid accumulations and extremely hazardous travel, especially across interior Maine and northern New Hampshire.
Coastal communities may encounter heavy, wetter snow, which could put stress on tree limbs and result in isolated power outages. Even in areas where mixing occurs, roads are expected to remain slick and hazardous throughout the day.
The storm is expected to impact both the Tuesday morning and evening commutes, with conditions slowly improving after midnight. Residents in Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, Conway, Nashua, Manchester, Laconia, and surrounding communities should prepare for delays and rapidly changing road conditions.
Officials urge drivers to avoid unnecessary travel. Anyone who must be on the road should carry an emergency kit, reduce speed, and anticipate sudden drops in visibility.
Road condition updates for Maine and New Hampshire are available at NewEngland511.org.
