A late winter storm this weekend is expected to bring heavy rain, high winds and significant flooding to parts of coastal Maine that are still recovering from back-to-back storms that battered the state earlier this year.

Meteorologists are predicting 1.5 to 2 inches of rain starting about 10 p.m. Saturday and tapering off around 10 a.m. Sunday. 

On the heels of Wednesday’s rainfall, the Portland area should expect a “pretty good soaking,” according to Michael Clair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray. 

Forecasters are concerned about some flooding in rivers, which are “starting to run a little higher,” but are primarily worried about the coast. 

Based on the moon cycle, the tide is at its “astronomical high” or highest point for the month, Clair said, so he expects significant flooding, similar to what the state saw on Jan. 10, the first of two January storms that clobbered the state and caused millions’ worth of damage. He does not expect flooding to be as severe as that following the second storm on Jan. 13. 

Despite a relatively dry February, “the coast has been hit pretty hard already from those two storms. A lot of dunes have been damaged and some sea walls,” he said. “All that’s adding up to some problems for the coast.” 

The weather service issued a coastal flood warning for York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties that will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Inundation of 1 to 2 feet is likely in some areas and large breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet will impact exposed shorelines, according to the weather service.

High tide in Portland will be 11:41 a.m. and forecasters say there’s a 95% chance the tide will exceed 13 feet by noon. There’s a 29% chance it will exceed 14 feet. 

The York County Emergency Management Agency asked people to avoid traveling near the immediate coastline on Sunday.

“Disregarding the road and beach closures put in place will not only endanger your safety, but also puts the lives of first responders at risk,” the agency said in a storm update on Facebook.

Saco city officials announced Saturday that access will be restricted starting at 9 a.m. Sunday on Seaside Avenue, Ferry Road and all roads in Camp Ellis. The restrictions will remain in place until staff can evaluate infrastructure and safety concerns.

“We urge you to avoid the area being mindful of your safety as well as the safety of our first responders, so staff can focus on responding to the situation,” officials said in a statement.

The city of Biddeford will shut down roads leading to beaches at 9 a.m. Sunday and asked people whose property sustained flooding during the January storms to consider leaving ahead of the storm. Road closures will include Granite Point Road, Fortunes Rocks Road, Elizabeth Road, Maddox Pond, Bridge Road and Hills Beach Road.

Wind along the coastline could gust up to 55 mph, with the strongest winds seen in the Midcoast, Clair said. A high wind warning is in effect along the coast from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. 

Moving inland, the mountains will likely see “the first pretty good snowfall in a while,” with early estimates reaching 8-12 inches in the higher terrain. 

“People thinking about going skiing this weekend or next week might have a silver lining,” he said.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham contributed to this report.

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