Portland, ME – Maine residents are being urged to prepare for a week of unsettled winter weather as multiple Alberta Clippers may bring pop-up snowstorms every other day from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 13, according to new forecasting guidance. The pattern may create repeated travel challenges across coastal and inland Maine as winter conditions intensify.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a strong northwest-flow pattern will carry several clipper disturbances across the Great Lakes, into northern New England, and over the Gulf of Maine. These fast-moving systems—often referred to collectively as the “Clipper Express”—are known for producing sudden snow bursts, gusty winds, and rapid temperature drops.
The first disturbance is expected to reach Maine Saturday night, with additional systems likely to follow every 48 hours. While snowfall amounts remain uncertain, forecasters caution that even brief periods of snow may create slippery roads along the I-295 and Route 1 corridors, especially during early-morning and evening commutes.
The exact track of each clipper will determine how much snow falls across regions such as Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor, and Downeast communities. Northern Maine—including Caribou and the Highlands—may see locally higher totals depending on wind direction and available moisture.
Travel impacts could become widespread as Maine sits beneath the active jet stream delivering these systems into New England, with rapidly shifting conditions likely through the December 7–13 window.
The NWS encourages residents to monitor frequent forecast updates as the pattern evolves.
