MAINE : Mainers Brace for Severe Storm Conditions

"COLD ENOUGH FOR YAS?"
... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from 7 am Wednesday to 1 am EST Thursday...Snow will overspread the area Wednesday morning and become heavy at times during the day on Wednesday. The snow will mix with sleet and freezing rain and change to all rain along the immediate coast Wednesday evening. Snow accumulations around an inch can be expected. This storm will have a moderate impact on the warning area. Heavy snow and sleet will cover roads and reduce visibilities making travel difficult.Please report snow, sleet, or ice accumulations to the National Weather Service by calling toll free... 877-633-6772. Stay tuned to
NOAA Weather Radio...your local media... or go to http://www.erh.noaa.gov/car/for further updates on this weather situation.


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The National Weather Service advises residents to brace and prepare for the biggest snowstorm so far this winter, and to expect heavy snow and near blizzard conditions. A foot or more of snow is predicted in many places before the cold front moves into New Brunswick on Thursday.
Forecasts call for almost two feet of snow in the western mountains and foothills, 12 to 18 inches in other interior regions and 8 to 14 inches along the coastline, where a change to sleet or freezing rain is likely late by early on Wednesday.
{Many Maine communities have announced parking bans in advance of the storm.}
The U.S. Coast Guard issued warnings to mariners to be prepared for 40-50-knot winds and 20-30 foot seas in New England waters and the Gulf of Maine by Tuesday.
Coast Guard units along the New England coast are issuing safety broadcasts to warn offshore mariners, and all coastal and offshore cutters as well as search-and-rescue stations have elevated their readiness status to "high".

{Mariners should closely monitor channel 16 VHF-FM for updated storm warnings and information.}