Rufe's Weather Outlook Update: Word is that this storm could be as bad as (or worse than) the Ice Storm of ’98. Lets hope not…..

Weather Update

12/20/13  6:30AM

 First minor rain/snowfall:
 Snow will develop Rangeley to Lincoln shortly with several inches by dusk. Light rain will blossom a bit later throughout the remainder of the service area; freezing for a few hours north of Fryeburg to Newport amounting to 1/10” if that. Winds will be light. Precipitation will wane at night as the freezing line settles south. 

 The Main Event:
 The rain begins in earnest between 2-4PM tomorrow, the freezing line draped from Fryeburg, Auburn to Bucksport, icing north of that. Snow will fall Rangeley north. The freezing line will settle south to Lebanon, and Route One by dawn Sunday, to slowly retreat north during the day. The heaviest precipitation will occur 6AM -2PM, ending by midnight Sunday. Expect 1.2”-1.7” melted water equivalent, most north. If all ice, very serious: more sleet north, and more liquid south. The zone throughout the western interior to Bangor is very much threatened. The ice/snow demarcation will be situated from Jackman to Lincoln. 6”-12” of wet snow/sleet is likely in that corridor. Extensive icing is likely farther south to Fryeburg to Augusta to Bucksport, potential of 1/2” to 1”. Up to one half inch of ice is possible farther south to the Sebago Basin, Auburn and Camden. The coast will be spared. River flooding possible if ice jams form.

 Fortunately the inversion will be deep, preventing northerly gusts from exceeding 20 mph inland. Thawing temps for all but the far north will be followed by a hard freeze Monday night through at least Christmas. 

 With such a tight thermal gradient there is much leeway for error.
 The rest of New England will receive significant rain, no wind.