Heavy Snow — Southern Oxford, Maine

2018-11-26 to 2018-11-27 · Southern Oxford, Maine

Event narrative

Steady snow developed on the evening of the 26th. Orographic lift of southeasterly winds created heavy snow at times in the higher elevations of the Mahoosuc Range. Surface temperatures near freezing made for a heavy, wet snow and scattered power outages due to downed tree limbs. A nearly stationary convergent band of snow located northwest of the surface low pressure center allowed snow to continue to pile up on the morning of the 27th. Storm total snowfall ranged from around 6 to 9 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 788034. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.