Winter Weather — Northwest Aroostook, Maine

2023-03-06 · Northwest Aroostook, Maine

Event narrative

Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph combined with 1 to 3 inches of snow to produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. The blowing and drifting snow led to hazardous driving conditions with significantly reduced visibilities and near whiteout conditions at times. The greatest impacts were across open agricultural areas exposed to west/northwest winds.

Wider weather episode

The pressure gradient between high pressure to the west and a retrograding low across the Maritimes supported gusty northwest winds across the region. Winds were generally sustained at 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph. However...some gusts up to around 60 mph occurred across portions of Penobscot county. The strongest winds occurred from the late evening of the 5th through the afternoon of the 6th. The winds produced blowing snow across portions of Aroostook county. Blowing snow locally reduced visibility and created hazardous driving conditions...particularly across open agricultural areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1084643. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.