PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A spring snowstorm is expected to dump at least 12 inches of snow with possible mixed precipitation over Aroostook County from Thursday evening through the day on Friday.
The National Weather Service office in Caribou has issued a winter storm warning for Aroostook, most of Penobscot and parts of Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington and Somerset counties, effective from 2 p.m. Thursday through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds may exceed 20 mph along with the heavy, wet snow, the NWS said.
The highest snowfall is expected at Clayton Lake, with 16 inches, with 13 inches predicted for Houlton and Fort Kent, 12 inches for the Caribou-Presque Isle area and 10 inches for the Madawaska-Van Buren area.
Areas of blowing snow could cause low visibility, Caribou forecasters said. Power outages are possible.
Southeast portions of Maine may see up to 11 inches of wet snow, and Friday winds could gust up to 35 mph, according to the NWS in Gray.
The National Weather Service in Gray issued a winter weather advisory effective from 2 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday, calling for heavy snow and dangerous travel, likely impacting morning and evening commutes.
Along with the winter storm, weather officials have issued an advisory for minor flooding along the Aroostook River near Crouseville due to an ice jam. At 7:30 a.m. April 9, the NWS said minor flooding covered portions of Route 164 on the Crouseville Road.
Community postings Thursday morning on the Aroostook County Flood Watch Facebook page indicated ice jams on both the St. John, near Big Rapid, and Allagash rivers. Residents shared views on April 8 of ice moving through St. John Plantation, St. Francis and Fort Fairfield, with a large pileup at the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield.
Aroostook County Emergency Management hosts the flood watch page.
The NWS urges motorists to “turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roadways.