Light snow created slick driving conditions across southern Maine during Friday’s morning commute, but the state largely missed wild winter weather that caused travel delays across large swaths of the country.
The weekend is expected to be calm, with freezing temperatures returning Sunday and a mix of snow and rain arriving New Year’s Eve, according to the National Weather Service in Gray.
Portland and other coastal areas got 1 to 2 inches of snow Friday morning, while inland areas received 3 to 5 inches before rain moved into the state. By noon, it was raining across most of Maine.
By Friday night, weather across southern Maine was mostly fog and drizzle, with the possibility of more rain moving in from New Hampshire, said William Watson, a weather service meteorologist. Temperatures hovered around freezing, causing slick conditions on roads and walkways.
“The temperature is supposed to increase, but we really haven’t seen that yet,” Watson said around 7:30 p.m. Friday. “Saturday looks pretty good, with quiet conditions through the weekend.”
Friday’s winter weather advisory for Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties was extended to 10 p.m., Watson said. A dense fog advisory was in effect Friday evening through 7 a.m. Saturday across southern Maine, excluding coastal York County.
Saturday will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy across southern Maine, with temperatures in the middle to upper 40s, Watson said. A cool-down is expected Sunday, with highs in the upper 20s.
New Year’s Eve is expected to bring a mix of rain and snow from Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon, Watson said. Temperatures will be near 40 Monday, will drop near freezing overnight and will rebound into the 40s on Tuesday.
During peak weather Friday morning, the speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was reduced to 45 mph, but normal speed was restored around noon. Crashes occurred early Friday morning on the turnpike in Kennebunk, Gray and Ogunquit, but no injuries were reported, according to the Maine Turnpike Authority.
Maine avoided most of the wild winter weather that shut down highways, delayed flights and caused at least three deaths elsewhere in the United States.
The storm system caused blizzard conditions in the Midwest and torrential rains led to flooding in the South. More than 11 inches of rain fell in some areas of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at:
kbouchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: KelleyBouchard
Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:
ggraham@pressherald.com
Twitter: grahamgillian
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