Heavy Snow — Coastal Cumberland, Maine

2020-01-16 · Coastal Cumberland, Maine

Event narrative

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained mainly north of Portland. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 4 inches near Cape Elizabeth to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow near Brunswick.

Wider weather episode

Weak low pressure formed on the morning of the 15th along a stationary boundary and moved up the Ohio River Valley and into the Northeast through the 16th. The system occluded and continued to move northeast, with the triple point passing south of southern New England. Secondary low pressure began to develop at the triple point on the afternoon of the 16th, rapidly deepening as it departed through the Gulf of Maine. The approach of a kicker shortwave helped to maintain an inverted trough northwest of the departing low, concentrating an area of snowfall over parts of eastern New Hampshire and western Maine.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 865818. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.