GRAY — While weather forecasters were recording unseasonably high temperatures Tuesday, they issued a winter storm watch for Wednesday.

The National Weather Service says that means there is the potential for heavy snow in much of central and western Maine from Wednesday afternoon through late Wednesday evening.

How heavy? Meteorologist Tom Chisholm says to expect 8 inches to 14 inches. “Much of it will fall Wednesday night,” he says.

Chisholm expects the heaviest snow will land about 10 to 20 miles inland from York County through central Maine. “Western Oxford County may not see quite as much —  perhaps 5 to 10 inches,” he says. 

That’s enough to create hazardous road conditions on any day. But Wednesday is traditionally a heavy travel day because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The NWS is advising travelers to start early so they reach their destination by Wednesday afternoon.

Heavy, wet snow near the coast and 10 to 15 mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph could lead to scattered power outages.

Temperatures are expected to top off in the lower 30s. 

This story will be updated.

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