Maine braces for first major snowfall of season Tuesday

The first significant snowstorm of the season is expected to move into Maine on Tuesday morning, with forecasters warning Monday that driving conditions could be dangerous.

The storm is expected drop at least 3 to 5 inches of snow along Maine’s coast, but inland areas could get 8 inches or more by late Tuesday night. During the afternoon, snow could fall at a rate of an inch an hour.

“The evening commute (Tuesday) could be potentially dangerous,” said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Gray.

Snowfall rates will intensify through Tuesday afternoon, approaching an inch per hour during the evening commute, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox counties, as well as the southern portions of Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties.

The winter storm watch warns that falling and blowing snow may drop visibility below a quarter-mile, creating dangerous driving conditions.

When snow falls at a rate of an inch an hour, it can be very difficult to see the road, especially if plows are struggling to keep up, Palmer said.

The storm will bring snow that’s good for winter sports activities in the mountains, Palmer said. The snow will be wettest and heaviest along the immediate coast.

The snow will wrap up overnight Tuesday as the coastal low moves offshore, Palmer said.

“Things will clear out pretty quickly, and we’ll wake up to mostly clear or partly cloudy skies Wednesday morning,” he said.

This story will be updated.