A major winter storm will bring heavy snow to Maine starting Sunday afternoon and evening, with the highest totals expected in southern and coastal areas.
The storm comes after the bitter cold temperatures that have gripped the state, with lows early Sunday morning dropping to almost 20 below in northern areas and 10 below Down East.
Temperatures were expected to remain frigid during the day Sunday, with highs near zero in northern areas and around 10 degrees Down East. Wind chills will make it feel like 10 below zero in northern Maine and near zero Down East, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.
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Winter storm warnings are in effect for much of the state, with 12 to 18 inches of snow predicted across southwest Maine, with amounts exceeding 20 inches possible along the southern coast, said the National Weather Service’s bureau in Gray.
Central and eastern Maine can expect 8 to 15 inches, with the heaviest amounts south of Millinocket. Northern Maine will see lighter totals, with 4 to 8 inches expected in northeast Aroostook County and 3 to 6 inches in northwest Aroostook and northern Somerset counties.
The snowstorm will move into the area Sunday afternoon in southern Maine and spread north Sunday night, reaching northern areas after midnight. Snow will be heaviest Monday morning and taper off Monday night into early Tuesday.
The National Weather Service warned that travel could be “very difficult to impossible” during the storm. Officials are advising people to consider delaying all travel and to use extreme caution if travel is necessary.