Heavy Snow — Central Somerset, Maine

2018-11-26 to 2018-11-27 · Central Somerset, Maine

Event narrative

Steady snow developed on the evening of the 26th. Orographic lifting of southeasterly winds created heavy snow at times in the higher elevations near the Bigelow Range. Once winds became more westerly significant snow accumulation occurred north towards the Canadian border. Storm total snowfall ranged from around 6 inches in the lower elevations, to a foot or more in the higher terrain.

Wider weather episode

This winter storm began as a blizzard over the Midwest. The storm moved into the eastern Great Lakes early on the 26th and snow broke out over northern New England that afternoon and evening. Secondary low pressure developed in the vicinity of Cape Cod on the evening of the 26th helping to ensure cooler air remained trapped across much of western Maine. Surface temperatures hovered within a couple degrees of freezing, but aloft temperatures were much colder. As a result snowfall was heavy and wet, and very dependent on elevation. While lower elevations mixed at times with sleet, freezing rain, and rain, the higher terrain remained predominantly snow and significant accumulations occurred. Low pressure slowed to a crawl on the 27th and snow continued into the 28th, although the bulk of the accumulation was from the evening of the 26th to the afternoon of the 27th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 788033. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.