Consider Thursday’s weather a small and temporary gift from Mother Nature.

Temperatures that rose into the 40s throughout the day allowed ice and snow to melt after the sloppy mix of rain, snow and sleet that fell the night before.

But on Friday, forecasters say, we’re doing it all over again.

With more wet weather and potentially slick roads expected throughout the day on Friday, some area schools were being proactive. In Auburn, all schools will have a remote learning day Friday so students and parents don’t have to travel.

In Lewiston, school officials planned to keep an eye on things before making decisions.

“I’ll be up late watching reports, up early watching reports,” said Superintendent Jake Langlais, “and I usually go out and about in it to see how navigation is. As soon as I know I will share it out.”

Langlais said he was reluctant to call for a remote school day for a variety of reasons.

“Remote days are complex as we are required to have a plan to feed students which is hard as such a large district and I am mindful that taxpayers are paying for staff for the day,” he said. “I believe the power of the in-person school day is much greater than remote days. The pandemic proved that remote learning works for some students but certainly not all. But if the weather doesn’t cooperate we will have to make the call.”

Meteorologists say the latest round of foul weather will arrive between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and last all day Friday, meaning the morning commute may be perilous. In some areas, a glaze up to a tenth of an inch of additional ice will be possible.

The National Weather Service in Gray issued a winter weather advisory Friday afternoon, warning of potentially treacherous road conditions during both morning and afternoon commutes.

With cooler temperatures expected as well, forecasters say the storm will likely bring more snow and sleet, and less freezing rain than what the area received Wednesday night.

Up to 6 inches of snow might fall in the western and northern parts of the state, according to the forecast, while 1 to 3 inches are expected in other areas.

Most school sports events had been postponed due to incoming weather. Also postponed was the Alpine Ski Race slated for Friday at Black Mountain in Rumford.

The latest weather system is expected to depart Friday night. With sun and above freezing temperatures in the forecast over the weekend, much of the snow, ice and slush from the two late-week storms should continue to melt.

Forecasters were also following a potential storm that could bring snow to the area overnight Sunday and into Monday. However, whether that storm would develop into something significant remained unclear Thursday night.

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