UPDATED: Winter Weather Update and a Couple Things You Might Want to Know
There will be no school tomorrow, Monday, January 26.
MAINE—A storm that’s expected to bring heavy snow to coastal and southern Maine beginning Sunday and through Monday has prompted multiple cancellations already including for all schools in the Mount Desert Island regional system on Monday, January 26, and all state offices. Mount Desert, Trenton, Tremont, Bar Harbor, and Southwest Harbor have announced town offices in those towns will be closed.
“Maine people are used to cold winter weather, but these conditions still require caution,” said Governor Janet Mills in a statement Sunday afternoon. “I encourage everyone to take the forecast seriously, take precautions, limit travel if possible, and give plenty of room to our snow fighters and first responders working to keep our roads and communities safe.”
There is an overnight parking ban in downtown Bar Harbor, tonight, January 25 during overnight hours into Monday. Public parking lots can be used.
Heavy snow is expected to move in tonight with a potential start time of 7 p.m. for Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. Snowfall predictions have varied depending on the outlet, but for the National Weather Service are currently at between 12-18 inches for most of Mount Desert Island. That snowfall amount is predicted to be greater on the outer islands. In contrast, AccuWeather, as of Sunday afternoon, was predicting 4-8 inches for Mount Desert Island. The National Weather Service predicts the storm will end by 3 a.m. on Tuesday.
The storm has already disrupted travel throughout a massive portion of the country this weekend with snow, freezing rain, sleet. Over 16,000 flights have been cancelled around the country. Approximately 1 million are without power.
Bitterly cold low temperatures spread throughout the state Sunday morning. A spot in Acadia National Park showed a low of -10 without windchills. Trenton and the Bar Harbor/Hancock County Airport saw -9. Bar Harbor dropped to -2 while Seawall Road/Campground dropped to -4.
According to the state, “The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is closely coordinating with the Maine Department of Transportation, Maine’s electric utilities, and local emergency management partners to monitor the storm and keep people safe.”
FROM THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
With periods of intense snowfall expected throughout today’s storm, the Maine Department of Transportation is urging drivers to use extreme caution and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
MaineDOTs snow-fighters and associated staff are working around the clock to keep roads passable. However, during the heaviest bursts of snow, visibility may become so limited that plow operators must temporarily return to their maintenance sheds for safety. These pauses can reduce winter maintenance response levels until conditions improve.
“We want the public to know our crews are out there and working hard,” said MaineDOT Acting Commissioner Dale Doughty. This storms forecast is unique, in that it is calling for intense snowfall rates in some areas. When visibility drops to unsafe levels, we need to bring operators back in to protect them and the traveling public. Other areas in the state not impacted by such intense snowfall will conduct snow removal operations as normal.
Drivers are reminded to stay well back from snowplows, give crews room to work, and use the roads only when necessary. MaineDOT will continue to share updates throughout the storm on its social media channels.
FROM THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND SCHOOL SYSTEM:
Due to the pending storm, there will be no school tomorrow, Monday, January 26, for all MDIRSS Schools.
Be well.
- Mike Zboray, Superintendent
FROM THE STATE OF MAINE:
State offices will be closed all day Monday, January 26, 2026 due to severe winter storm conditions. Governor Mills is strongly urging all Maine people to use extra caution if traveling.
For a list of open warming centers visit maine.gov/mema/response-recovery/mass-care
This story was updated at 4 p.m. to include a statement from Governor Mills. It was updated again at 7 p.m. and a bit after for the Mount Desert, Bar Harbor, Trenton, and Southwest Harbor town office closures.