Tuesday Storm Likely To Bring Snow and Tough Driving Conditions
Many variations in forecast for snowfall amounts
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Just in time for those who are hoping for a white Christmas, a winter storm that is expected to arrive tonight and last throughout Tuesday is also expected to create potentials for hazardous holiday travel in Hancock County according to the National Weather Service in Caribou’s 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. updates, Monday.
Mount Desert Island could see between 4-6 inches of snow, according to the weather service’s 2 p.m. update. However, the National Weather Service is still a bit uncertain of exact snowfall amounts in the region. Earlier predictions and other agencies have estimated between 3-6 inches will fall on Mount Desert Island. AccuWeather is predicting between 2-4 inches. Images sent out by the weather service at 1:50 p.m. show 6-8 inches predicted.
Precipitation is expected to begin at approximately 2 a.m. on Mount Desert Island and midnight in inner Hancock County. The storm is traveling from west to east with the heaviest snowfall predicted to be Downeast, Maine. The I-95, Route 1, 6, and 9 corridors are all expected to be hazardous for driving. Winds are expected to be light, but could potentially gust 10-15 m.p.h. on Tuesday night. On Mount Desert Island, the precipitation is expected to end at approximately 6 p.m., Tuesday. However, other reports state it will end at approximately 1 p.m., Tuesday.
WHITE CHRISTMASES
According to a press release from the National Weather Service, “Since weather records began in Bangor in 1925 the weather conditions have varied widely on Christmas day at Bangor. The warmest Christmas on record was in 2020 with a high of 60F. The lowest temperature ever observed on Christmas was 17 below in 1980. The lowest high temperature ever observed was 6 above in 1975. The normal high and low on Christmas Day is 32F and 14F.”
White Christmases usually have at least 1 inch of snow on Christmas morning.
“Over the years, a white Christmas has been observed 75 percent of the time. The average snow depth is 4 inches, and 1970 takes the top honors with 23 inches of snow on the ground. The snowiest Christmas was in 2017 when 12.2 inches of snow was observed,” the weather service wrote.
“At Caribou, where weather records began in 1939, the warmest Christmas was in 2020 with a high of 57F. The lowest temperature of 26 below was observed in 1975. The only time that the high temperature failed to reach zero was in 1983 when the high was only 1 below. The normal high and low on Christmas Day is 25F and 9F,” the service wrote.
There have only been seven years where there was not a white Christmas in Caribou: 1957, 1973, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2010, and 2023. In 1989 there was 29 inches of snow on the ground.
BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT TOWN OFFICES CLOSURE
Due to weather, municipal offices in Bar Harbor will now be closed for the day Tuesday, Dec. 24, in addition to the scheduled Dec. 25 holiday closure.
Town Manager Durlin Lunt has said that the Mount Desert Town Office will also be closed.
QUICK INFORMATION
Winter Storm Warning from 1 AM - 7 PM Tuesday for Coastal and Central Washington County.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 10 PM this evening till 1 PM Tuesday for all of Penobscot, Southern & Central Piscataquis and Southern Aroostook Counties.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 1 AM - 1 PM Tuesday for all of Hancock County and Northern Washington County.
Power outages with Versant can be reported via its Online Outage Report Form or by calling (207) 973-2000 or 1-855-363-7211 (1-855-363-7211).
The latest road conditions for Maine are at newengland511.org.
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