ALFRED — The title of one song made famous by crooner Bing Crosby is “White Christmas.” If you live in York County, however, don’t expect one. Weather forecasters say it will be a wet Christmas instead this year.

Heavy rain is on tap for Christmas Eve day, continuing into Christmas morning, and then the wind is expected to pick up. But it has been rainy for a while. Residents woke up to rain this morning, starting in inland locations as freezing precipitation before it turned entirely to rain.

And even though it will be wet and not white on Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day, utility crews will be at the ready, despite the holiday ”“ they’re used to it.

A nor’easter dumped a foot of heavy, wet snow on most areas on the night before Thanksgiving, and at one point on the morning of Thanksgiving Day, upwards of 100,000 customers were without power in the state.

Central Maine Power doesn’t expect that to happen this time around, because the precipitation will be rain. But the wind on Christmas Day could create a bit of havoc.

“We’re verifying availability of resources and people ready to respond,” said CMP spokeswoman Gail Rice on Monday. “It may be windy in part of our service area, but we’re not expecting the complication of ice or snow.”

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But, she said, the crews know they’ll be called in, if need be. And so CMP is keeping an eye on the weather.

In northern Maine, the National Weather Service Office in Gray forecasts freezing rain for tonight into Wednesday morning, resulting in some slippery areas.

For York County and much of central and coastal Maine, the weather service says it will be rain today, rain tonight, rain Wednesday and rain Wednesday night. As for Christmas Day, there will be rain until noon or shortly thereafter. On Christmas Day, the wind is expected to kick up somewhat, blowing 10-20 knots on the coast, with gusts up to 35 mph, with less powerful winds inland.

The sun is forecast to return Friday, with a high temperature of 44 degrees.

While forecasts are always subject to change, the National Weather Service says there may be a chance of snow Sunday night. Enough for sledding Monday after school? The word is we’ll all just have to wait and see. Other weather gurus, like the folks at Weather.com, aren’t forecasting snow for Sunday ”“ they say it will be partly cloudy, instead.

The message: This is Maine, folks, and as Mainers always say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.



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