Winter Storm in Maine, December 5 to 7, 1997

Name: Winter Storm in Maine, December 5 to 7, 1997
Start: 1997-12-05T05:00
End: 1997-12-07T05:00
Location: Maine

December 5 to 7, 1997 · NWS GYX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A low pressure center moving slowly northeastward in the Atlantic on the 5th was over Nova Scotia on the 6th. Snow fell across much of eastern Maine during a 2-day period.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

A low pressure center moving slowly northeastward in the Atlantic on the 5th was over Nova Scotia on the 6th. Snow fell across much of eastern Maine during a 2-day period. Snowfall accumulations in northeastern Aroostook County were generally 10 to 15 inches while lesser amounts fell to the south and west. Only about 2 inches of snow fell along the downeast coast.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Central Penobscot

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Central Penobscot forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Interior Washington

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Interior Washington forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northeast Aroostook

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Northeast Aroostook forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Penobscot

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Penobscot forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Aroostook

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Northwest Aroostook forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southeast Aroostook

When: December 5, 5:00 AM EST to December 7, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Southeast Aroostook forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maine in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Maine, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5625848, 5625849, 5625850, 5625851, 5625852, 5625853.