CARIBOU, Maine — The forecast for tonight’s storm has not significantly changed from this morning, and the National Weather Service in Caribou urges Aroostook County residents to stay off the roads until the heavy snow passes tomorrow.
Earlier today, National Weather Service forecaster Richard Norton said that a deviation in the storm’s projected path could result in freezing rain.
At 3:30 p.m., Caribou NWS Meteorologist Pete Rahe said the forecast has been “modified to show just snow in the Caribou area,” with a possibility of sleet in the Houlton area.
The snow has already started to fall, but Rahe says the storm will intensify between 8 and 9 p.m.
Tonight, when the storm is at its strongest, Rahe says the region may see two inches of snow an hour.
“We’re predicting up to 10 inches of snow just overnight,” said Rahe, “from 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning.”
Both Rahe and NWS forecaster Richard Norton have advised local residents to avoid driving through the rough weather, as the heavy snow combined with wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hours will dramatically reduce visibility.
“Seriously, stay off the roads because it’s going to get ugly tonight,” Rahe said.
