PORTLAND — Portland can expect another inch or two of snow by evening, thanks to a band of snow that is dropping into Cumberland County from Androscoggin County.
While the additional snowfall won’t be heavy, strong winds are expected to continue through the afternoon, said Andy Pohl, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Winds of 35 to nearly 50 mph were widespread throughout southern Maine and won’t drop into the 25-30 mph range until early evening, he said.
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A blizzard warning will remain in effect until at least 6 p.m. Blizzards take place when visibility is at a quarter-mile or less and winds are at least 35 mph for three hours or more.
Cold temperatures mean the snow is not sticking and the wind is whipping it up into the atmosphere, Pohl said.
“That can really cause a lot of problems, particularly with the roads,” he said.
10:23 a.m.
PORTLAND — With schools and city and state government offices closed today due to the blizzard, traffic on Portland-area roads was relatively light this morning.
Overnight, the storm, a classic nor’easter, dumped between 6 and 11 inches of snow on the Portland area. High winds and blowing snow made accurate snowfall measurements difficult, said Al Wheeler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray.
Light snow is currently falling in Portland, though Wheeler said there are two bands of heavy snow heading for the Portland area. One is near Somerset County. The other is near Waldo County.
Before it’s over, the Portland region could have between 12 and 18 inches of snow.
This morning, the wind was blowing from the north at 25 mph, with gusts up to 41 mph. Wheeler said winds could intensify to 50 mph later today.
The highest winds are off the coast. Isle of Shoals reported winds gusting to 54 knots. Seas are 14 feet at the Portland buoy.
The storm is centered east of Cape Cod and is moving northeast.
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