Light Snow & Rain For Saturday, More Snow & Rain For Monday

Shovels Can Take A Break For Christmas

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A rather unstable pattern continues for the state as it appears through the next week as there are a few opportunities for precipitation. Saturday’s feature in on track to be light, where the front on Monday into Tuesday appears to have a bit more juice to it. A storm for late week will be one to watch in the days ahead.

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Clouds take over Friday night an light precipitation breaks out early Saturday morning over western areas, and progressively moves eastward during the day. While it will be rather gray to start off, as the weak front travels east, skies will brighten for southern and eastern areas in the afternoon towards sunset. The north and mountains appear to be in the clouds for the balance of the day.

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There is not a whole lot of moisture associated with this system as this NAM model idea indicates. The mountains may squeeze an inch of snow out of this. There is a chance for a very light mix in the mountains, perhaps some sleet or a short lived period of freezing rain, but it does not appear that any of this will affect any widespread travel issues. Light rain showers can be expected for the south and east. If there is anywhere that may exceed a tenth of an inch of rain it would be coastal Hancock & Washington Counties.

Again, this is likely to be forgotten in time for evening church and family gatherings state wide. For folks heading out for midnight mass can expect temperatures in the 30s with partly to mostly cloudy skies, and a light west breeze.

Christmas Day

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The forecast highs for the day appear on track to come in the wee hours of Sunday. The storm that passed through the region will intensify over Atlantic Canada, and will high pressure sliding south over the region, northwest winds will pick up and usher cold air into the state. Tempertures are on track to fall all day, eventually bottoming out below zero for the Crown, and many areas in the single digits to around 10° at the coast to start Monday.

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Models continue to be in mutual agreement on the development of a major storm over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes for Sunday. The storm will weaken a bit as it moves eastward Sunday night into Monday as it travels through South Central Quebec. What our area will deal with is the frontal boundary more than anything else. Clouds will be on the increase late Sunday night / early Monday as the front approaches.

Stormy Monday

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Guidance today shifted a bit warmer with this frontal boundary, which if this is to verify would keep northern Maine snowy, a mix to rain for the mountains, and rain for areas south and east. The characteristics of this system are somewhat similar to the recent event where cold air affected the precipitation outcome in the western foothills and mountains. Given the short visit of cold air, I do not feel that this will be big issue with this event.

Precipitation develops from west to east in the afternoon, and appears to be over by late evening / early Tuesday. Northern Maine appears on track for roughly a half a foot of snow from this event.

Outlook For Tuesday Through Late Week

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Tuesday sees a weak front work through the region which may touch off a few snow showers for the mountains and foothills. Wednesday appears to be a fair, but cooler day. At this point on, models are having all kinds of ideas about a storm late week. For now, it is science fiction, but worthy of keeping updated on as we head for New Years weekend.

NOTE: This will be my last update until after Christmas.

Thanks as always for your support, and Happy Holidays!

~ Mike Haggett

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Special thanks to Tropical Tidbits and Pivotal Weather for their written permission to use their graphics in this post. Use of WeatherTAP images used within their written permitted terms of media use policy. Additional forecast information supplied by the National Weather Service, WeatherBELL Analytics and AccuWeather Professional.

Always Stay Weather Aware!

Mike Haggett

About Mike Haggett

As a Mainer for nearly five decades, Mike understands all too well the ever changing weather forecasts and surprises given the location and geography of the state. Spending much of his time as child outdoors fishing in all four seasons, keeping track of the weather was a must for personal safety. Living firsthand through the impacts of weather through many types of storms and phenomena, the idea came to mind for him to analyze it closer in 2011.