After a day in which temperatures climbed well into the 50s in Maine, the weather took a sharp turn for the worse Tuesday as a coastal storm sent heavy rain and high winds to the state. And after that passes, forecasters say, Mainers can look forward to snow on Thanksgiving.
Maine was treated to a bright and balmy Monday, in which temperatures hit 56 in Portland, the National Weather Service said.
But that was coming to an end Monday night as the storm approached. Predicting that up to 2 inches of rain could fall in much of the state, the weather service posted a flood watch for Tuesday and Tuesday night over southern and central regions and warned of high winds.
A flood watch is posted from Tuesday afternoon until late Wednesday night over northern and eastern Maine. Colder air in the north could bring a few inches of snow to that part of the state later Tuesday.
The stormy weather clears out Wednesday, bringing in cooler air that will set the table for what could be a white Thanksgiving for many Mainers.
Snow is likely for at least part of the day in western and central Maine, the weather service said. The snow could mix with rain in the afternoon in southern and coastal areas, making for a messy trip home after the holiday feast.
Northern Maine was expected to dodge the snow during the day and wind up with cloudy weather, but snow could come Thanksgiving night.
State police, noting that the Thanksgiving period is among the heaviest travel times of the year, said they are planning additional traffic enforcement efforts during the holiday weekend.
Col. Craig Poulin, the state police chief, said police aircraft will work with troopers who are on the ground to enforce traffic laws. Poulin said heavy traffic is expected in many areas of the state, and he urged motorists to be well-rested, to plan ahead and to adjust speeds in bad weather and traffic congestion.
Highway deaths are down in Maine so far this year. Poulin said 148 people have been killed on Maine road compared to 175 at this time last year.
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