Portland, Maine – Icy patches and strong coastal wind gusts could disrupt travel across Maine beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, as a wetter late-winter pattern takes hold through Monday, March 2.
According to NOAA’s 6- to 10-day outlook issued Friday, above-normal precipitation is favored across New England during the Thursday-to-Monday stretch. With temperatures trending near seasonal averages, even brief dips below 32 degrees may support freezing rain, especially during overnight hours and the early morning commute.
Statewide, the highest travel risk centers along the I-95 corridor from York County through Augusta and Bangor. Bridges spanning the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers tend to freeze first, and elevated sections of I-295 in Portland could turn slick if light icing develops. Inland communities including Lewiston and Waterville may see rain briefly mix with or change to freezing rain before transitioning back to plain rain.
Wind also becomes a concern late in the period. Gusts between 40 and 45 mph are possible along the Midcoast and Down East shoreline, including Rockland and Bar Harbor. Those winds could down tree limbs and produce isolated outages, particularly if ice adds weight to branches.
Residents should secure outdoor items, charge essential electronics, and allow extra travel time during peak icing windows. The unsettled pattern holds through March 2, and additional advisories may be issued as this late-winter system evolves.
