Winter Storm — Coastal Cumberland, Maine

2020-12-17 · Coastal Cumberland, Maine

Event narrative

Snow began before sunrise on the 17th. Snow quickly became heavy as an intense band of snow moved into the area. As the band became nearly stationary snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour were observed for several hours. A weakening trough aloft quickly brought an end to snow by mid afternoon. Snowfall totals ranged between 14 and 20 inches.

Wider weather episode

A modest low pressure system developed along the Gulf Coast on the 16th, with secondary development occurring off the Carolinas by the afternoon. An Arctic air mass was in place over New England as a strong high pressure anchored itself in the Saint Lawrence River Valley. Low pressure occluded early on the 17th and slowly tracked south of New England through the day. An intense band of heavy snow moved north into parts of western Maine early in the morning on the 17th and remained nearly stationary into the afternoon. Snowfall rates of 4 to 6 inches per hour and total amounts of 1 to 2 feet were observed at the peak of the event. Dry air and a deamplifying upper trough limited the northward push of heavy snow, leaving a sharp gradient on the poleward edge of accumulating snowfall.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 926299. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.