Winter Storm in Kennebec, Maine

Snow overspread the southern Kennebec River Valley on the morning of the 2nd. A nearly stationary band of snow set up just north of the area through the afternoon, but light to moderate snow continued through the afternoon and evening. Snow tapered off late in the evening on the 2nd. Snowfall totals range from 5 to 8 inches.

On December 2nd an upper trough was crossing the Great Lakes and becoming negatively tilted over time. Meanwhile a strong jet streak was lifting into the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and placed much of northern New England in a favorable quadrant for lift. The response at the surface was for low pressure along the Mid Atlantic coast to rapidly deepen as it moved northeastward towards the coast of Nova Scotia. The center of the low pressure dropped roughly 25 hPa in 24 hours from the 2nd to the 3rd. Snow began to overspread western Maine after sunrise on the 2nd. Through midday snow was occasionally heavy underneath a lateral snowband that ran along the foothills. This was the region's first significant snowfall of the season, and while snow was just getting going during the morning commute, it made travel dangerous during the evening commute. Snow began to taper off on the evening of the 2nd, with the last of the snow ending near the coast after midnight. Key Messages: heavy snow, traffic accidents.