SEVERE WEATHER ALERT: Blizzard & Winter Storm Warnings Now Issued For Saturday Night-Sunday Night

BLIZZARD WARNING....RED
WINTER STORM WARNINGS....PINK

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 7 AM EST

MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD

WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 7 AM EST

MONDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SOUTHERN SOMERSET-INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-

KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO-COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-

LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-

COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...SKOWHEGAN...PITTSFIELD...

SANFORD...BERWICK...NORTH WINDHAM...GORHAM...BRIDGTON...

LEWISTON-AUBURN...LIVERMORE FALLS...AUGUSTA...WATERVILLE...

WINTERPORT...UNITY...BIDDEFORD...SACO...OLD ORCHARD BEACH...

KITTERY...PORTLAND...SOUTH PORTLAND...WESTBROOK...BATH...

TOPSHAM...BOOTHBAY HARBOR...WISCASSET...WALDOBORO...CAMDEN...

ROCKLAND...THOMASTON...BELFAST...LINCOLNVILLE...ROCHESTER...

DOVER...SALEM...DERRY...EXETER...PORTSMOUTH...HAMPTON

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW... BLOWING SNOW... AND BLIZZARD

  CONDITIONS.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW BEGINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND BECOMES HEAVY AT

Blizzard & Winter Storm Warnings Issued For Monday Night-Tuesday Night

Blizzard Warnings in red
Winter Storm Warnings in pink

...A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM POSSIBLE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY...

.LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK NORTHEAST FROM THE MID ATLANTIC REGION
MONDAY NIGHT AND THEN SLOWLY MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS NOVA SCOTIA BY
WEDNESDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD NORTH ACROSS DOWN EAST
MAINE LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND THEN REACH THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN
MAINE BY TUESDAY. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY
BEFORE TAPERING TO SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IN
ADDITION...GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL RESULT IN SOME BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY ON TUESDAY.

SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-INTERIOR HANCOCK-CENTRAL WASHINGTON-
COASTAL HANCOCK-COASTAL WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BANGOR...BREWER...ORONO...OLD TOWN...
AMHERST...AURORA...DEDHAM...EASTBROOK...GREAT POND...ORLAND...
DEBLOIS...GRAND LAKE STREAM...MEDDYBEMPS...PEMBROKE...PERRY...
PRINCETON...ELLSWORTH...BAR HARBOR...BLUE HILL...EASTPORT...
MACHIAS...CHERRYFIELD

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TUESDAY TO 1 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD

Blizzard Warnings for Downeast Maine

The National Weather Service in Caribou has issued a Blizzard Warning for all of Washington and Hancock Counties from 6:00 am to midnight on Wednesday, March 26. Travel will be extremely treacherous during this time, including some roads potentially becoming impassable from drifting snow. Whiteout conditions are likely at times.

The Blizzard Warning areas will see 8 to 12 inches of snow, with wind gusts up to 50 mph. Heavy snow, and blowing and drifting snow, will cause extremely reduced visibility and possible whiteouts. Roads may become impassable in some areas.

Winter Storm Warnings are in place for southern Aroostook and central and southern Penobscot, and a Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for the rest of northern and eastern Maine, as well as for Knox and Waldo Counties.

The Winter Storm Warning areas can expect 4 to 8 inches of snow, but high winds and greatly reduced visibility and hazardous driving conditions.

The Advisory areas can expect 2 to 6 inches of snow, but high winds with gusts to 55 mph, and extremely low visibility in blowing snow conditions.

A Wind Advisory has been posted for Kennebec, Lincoln, Sagadagoc and coastal Cumberland and York Counties from 11 am to 11 pm. Winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph are possible, possibly causing fallen tree limbs and power outages.

Travel, especially in the blizzard areas, should be avoided if possible. It will be very difficult for crews to keep roads clear under these conditions.

* Stay aware of local weather forecasts. You can find the latest warning messages [at the MEMA website](http://www.maine.gov/mema/weather/watch_warn.htm ). * Stay off the roads if you can, and use **extreme** caution if you must travel * Check on friends and neighbors who may need help during or after the storm * If you lose power, operate generators safely. Use generators **outside only**, at least 15 feet from any windows or doors.