CARIBOU, Maine — For the second time in as many weeks, a major winter storm is expected to drop about a foot of snow throughout Aroostook County.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, another nor’easter will bring significant snow to the state, with southern areas expected to see the first flakes early Tuesday morning. The storm will then spread north, with snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour expected in the Bangor and Down East areas.
A winter storm warning has been posted for all portions of the state, except northern Aroostook County, which was under a winter storm watch as of Monday morning.
Tim Duda, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Caribou, said Monday morning that northern Maine residents should brace for another major winter storm, with heavy snow expected to begin Tuesday afternoon.
“It looks like the snow will develop in the Houlton area Tuesday in the early afternoon and continuing Tuesday night into Wednesday,” Duda said. “It looks like this (storm) could be a long, drawn out event with some potential lingering snow right into Thursday.”
A winter storm warning is in effect for northern Somerset, northern Piscataquis, northern Penobscot and southeast Aroostook counties starting at noon Tuesday. Heavy snow is expected with total accumulations in the 10-15 inch range for much of the state.
Forecast models suggest the greatest amount of snow will fall in southern Aroostook County, with the Houlton area expected to receive 10-16 inches of new snow. The Presque Isle/Caribou area should see between 9-14 inches, while the St. John Valley is estimated at 8-12 inches.
Duda said the new storm will likely feature heavier, wetter snow than the previous storm, but on the plus side, winds will be less severe.
This storm comes on the heels of last week’s weather event, which forced schools and many businesses to close. The Ashland area received the largest amount of snow from that storm, with 12 inches reported, Duda said.
NWS spotters reported 9 inches of snow in Fort Kent and about 6 inches in the Madawaska area. About 9 inches fell in the Presque Isle/Caribou area, while 10.5 inches blanketed the greater Houlton area.
