A winter storm warning for most of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire is staying in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday, according to weather services. Forecasts vary slightly across southern and central Maine, but it doesn’t look good for anybody after Monday’s storm — this one will be the biggest yet according to forecasters.

National Weather Service forecaster Sarah Thunberg said the middle stretch of Maine, specifically the mountains, can expect 8 to 12 inches of snow. Areas along the mid coast should expect 6 to 8 inches, she said.

“Then it looks like you’re going to be getting a period of wintry mix after midnight,” Thunberg said.

The National Weather Service’s online detailed forecasts show Lewiston and Auburn specifically can expect to add 7 to 11 inches of snow to the remainder of the approximately 15 inches from Monday. Snow will start falling around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Augusta will add between 6 and 10 inches to about 12 inches on the ground starting around 8 p.m. Lows for both areas will be around 20 degrees and winds as high as 25 mph.

Lewiston’s Highway Operations Manager Reggie Poussard said despite the recent storm having more snow than predicted, staff were prepared and handled it effectively.

“We always plan for the worst and hope for the best. The challenge is eventually going to be snow removal, and we look forward to a break in the weather following this next storm,” Poussard said. “For Wednesday’s storm, our trucks are already to go, and our team of drivers will be rested and ready to respond to the storm.”

Public Works Deputy Director Megan Bates echoed Poussard’s sentiments adding crews were fortunate the snow was light and fluffy.

“We are preparing for a more challenging storm starting tomorrow, as the snow will be heavy and wet,” Bates said,

Snow and freezing rain for Lewiston and Auburn will come before 9 a.m. Thursday and before 8 a.m. for Augusta. Augusta can expect a rain and snow mix from 8 to 9 a.m. with rains to follow. Rain will take over in Lewiston and Auburn at 11 a.m. through the evening. Additional snow accumulations will be around 1 to 3 inches and highs in the afternoon could reach 37 degrees for both areas.

Portland will get snow before 1 a.m. Thursday which will turn to a rain and snow mix 1 to 2 a.m. with snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches. Rain will carry on until about 2 p.m. with a 30% chance of rain continuing until about 8 p.m.

The highest total precipitation will be mostly over the mid coast and the highest snowfall in the mountains, Thunberg said. All of that will change over to rain as the temperature rises — which will make things difficult for many Thursday morning commuters.

“I mean it’s hard to say exactly what … the worst of it (is) because there is an area … up to a quarter inch of ice over Androscoggin and Cumberland counties into northern York County,” she said. “Hopefully it won’t be too, too messy, but there are going to be several hours of rain or of the wintry mix overnight, so the morning commute is going to probably be pretty slippery.”

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