Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Maine, March 5 to 6, 2001

Name: Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Maine, March 5 to 6, 2001
Start: 2001-03-05T08:00
End: 2001-03-06T22:00
Location: Maine

March 5 to 6, 2001 · NWS GYX · 26 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 26 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: 26

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 major winter storm brought blizzard conditions to much of western Maine as heavy snow and strong winds combined to produce near-zero visibility. An area of low pressure moved from the southeastern states on the morning of March 4th to off the Mid-Atlantic Coast by the morning of the 5th. The low continued to intensify as it moved slowly northeastward to just off Cape Cod by the morning of the 6th. The storm then tracked east into the Atlantic by the morning of the 7th. Many businesses and schools were closed due to the storm. In addition, a 1 to 2 foot storm surge combined with high astronomical tides to produce coastal flooding and beach erosion along the Maine coast south of Portland. Snowfall amounts from the storm generally ranged from several inches in the western mountains near the Canadian border to 20 inches or more along the coast. Several locations in York and Cumberland Counties reported around 2 feet of new snow while most locations southeast of the mountains had more than a foot of new snow from the storm. Blizzard conditions developed along and inland from the coast during the afternoon of the 6th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 5, 4:20 AM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 5, 4:20 AM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
420 AM EST MON MAR 5 2001

CORRECTION...

NOTE...THE CORRECTION IS TO CHANGE THE HEADLINES AT THE END TO
WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND TO CHANGE SOME OF THE TIMES AND ZONES
GROUPINGS.

MAJOR COASTAL STORM DEVELOPING AT THIS TIME.  STORM WILL SPREAD
HEAVY SNOW AND WIND INTO FORECAST AREA WITH WORSE WEATHER OCCURRING
TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY.

ZONES...
THE ETA MODEL IS FASTER...STRONGER AND WARMER THAN THE AVN/NGM.
WILL LEAN TOWARD THE AVN/NGM.  ALL MODELS FORECAST A SNOW EVENT SO
PRECIPITATION TYPE WONT BE AN ISSUE.  QUESTION IS HOW MUCH WIND WITH
THE HEAVY SNOW...THAT IS WINTER STORM WARNING VS A BLIZZARD
WARNING.  WILL OPT FOR A WINTER STORM WARNING BUT WILL ADD THAN THE
WEATHER MAY APPROACH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND TUESDAY.  ALSO
WILL HILITE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

SNOW WILL BREAK OUT TODAY AS ALL 3 MODELS SWING A LOBE OF VORTICITY
THROUGH THE REGION ALONG WITH DEVELOPING WARM AIR ADVECTION...
INCREASING EASTERLY FLOW BOUNDARY LAYER THROUGH 850 MB...AND
INCREASING LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG A DEVELOPIG COASTAL FRONT.
PRECIPITATION WILL BE MOSTLY LIGHT TODAY...THEN INCREASE IN
INTENSITY TONIGHT AS ALL THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS INCREASE AND SHORT
WAVE LIFTING OUT TOWARD US ENHANCES THE UPWARD VERICAL MOTION.

THE SNOW WILL WIND DOWN ON TUESDAY AS THE 300 MB JET DRIVES FURTHER
SOUTH AND EAST.  THE SURFACE LOW RESPONDS BY DROPPING SOUTHWARD
TOWARD THE BEST UPPER AIR SUPPORT.  AS THE SYSTEM DRIFTS AWAY FROM
US AND WE LOSE UPPER AIR SUPPORT THE LOW LEVEL FLOW /UP TO 850 MB/
GRADUALLY WEAKENS...ESPECIALLY ON THE AVN/NGM MODELS.  THE ETA HOLDS
ONTO THIS FEATURE LONGER...THUS PRODUCES MORE QPF.

THE ETA GIVES PWM 3 1/2 INCHES OF QPF FOR THIS EVENT.  THIS WOULD
TRANSLATE TO 3 FT OF SNOW  WILL GO WITH A MORE CONSERVATIVE
FORECAST IN LINE WITH NGM/AVN QPF OF ABOUT 1 TO 1 1/2 INCHES FOR
PWM.  THIS WOULD PRODUCE AROUND A FOOT OF SNOW.

SNOW AMOUNTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE FORECAST.  WILL
GO WITH SOMETHING LIKE 6 TO 12 INCHES MOST NORTHERN ZONES...10 TO 15
INCHES CENTRAL ZONES AND 1 TO 2 FEET SOUTHERN ZONES BASED ON THE QPF
WHICH IS HIGHEST FOR SOUTHERN ZONES WITH THE MAX ALONG SW ME AND
SOUTHERN NH PER ETA AND A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND PER AVN/NGM.

TIMING BRINGS SNOW TO MORE NORTHERN ZONES THIS AFTERNOON...CENTRAL
ZONES TO MID COAST DURING THE MORNING AND SOUTHERN ZONES STARTING
EARLY THIS MORNING.

MODEL FWC/MAV/FAN POPS ARE CATEGORICAL TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY AND
WILL GO WITH THEM /MAY ACTUALLY GO NEAR 100 PCT FOR THE 3 PERIODS/.
MODEL FWC/MAV/FAN TEMPS SHOW THE FAN NUMBERS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH
THE FWC/MAV.  WILL LEAN TOWARD THE FWC/MAV AND WILL GO A LITTLE
COLDER AS THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE LATELY WITH THE ARCTIC AIR MASS
OVER THE REGION THE PAST FEW DAYS.

EXTENDED...
WILL KEEP THE CHANCE OF SNOW GOING TUESDAY NIGHT.  WILL DROP THE
MENTION OF ANY SNOW DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY BASED ON 00Z AVN
PULLING SYSTEM OUT TO SEA AND DRYING OUT THE RH ACROSS THE AREA.  A
PARTLY CLOUDY FORECAST SHOULD SUFFICE FOR NOW.  NO CHANGES REST OF
EXTENDED AT THIS TIME.

CWF...
WILL GO RIGHT TO A MARINE STORM WARNING THIS FORECAST.  EVEN THE
WEAKER NGM/AVN MODELS SHOW BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS INCREASING TO 45/50
KTS BY 12Z TUE.  THE STRONGER ETA HAS 55 KTS BY 06Z.  BUFKIT
SOUNDING FORECASTS SHOW VERY STRONG LOW LEVEL JET UP TO 70 KTS ON
THE ETA AND 55 KTS ON THE NGM CONTINUING THROUGH TUE.  WILL FORECAST
INCREASING WIND TODAY AND TONIGHT...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 50 KTS
LATE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT THE MARINE STORM WARNING...THEN CONTINUE THE
FORECAST OF STORM FORCE WINDS ON TUESDAY.

WINDS WILL BE NE THROUGH THIS EVENT DUE TO CROSS ISOBARIC FLOW WITH
RAPIDLY DEEPENING CYCLONE.  ALSO COLD AIR DAMMING OVER LAND WILL
KEEP A NE OR EVEN A N WIND GOING ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.  WIND
POSSIBLY BECOMING MORE EASTERLY AWAY FROM THE COAST TUESDAY NIGHT
AND WEDNESDAY AS STORM SYSTEM NO LONGER INTENSIFIES AND DRIFTS SOUTH
AWAY FROM THE COASTAL WATERS.

WILL ADD FREEZING SPRAY TO THE FORECAST TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY BASED
ON WIND SPEED...AIR TEMP AND WATER TEMP.

COASTAL FLOODING...
ASTRONOMICAL TIDES INCREASE EACH DAY UNTIL THEY PEAK FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY.  EARLY TUESDAY MORNING TIDE IS 10.1 FT...THEN 9.0 FT LATE
TUESDAY.  MRPECS GUIDANCE FORECASTS A 2 TO 2.3 STORM SURGE /PUSHING
TIDES ABOVE THE CRITICAL 12 FT STAGE/ DURING THIS TIME FRAME /06Z
TUE THRU 00Z WED/ ALONG WITH MODERATE BEACH EROSION AT 12Z TUE AND
MINOR BEACH EROSION AT 00Z WED.  WILL HILIGHT MINOR COASTAL FLOODING
AND BEACH EROSION POSSIBLE AT TIME OF HIGH TIDE TUESDAY.  BY
WEDNESDAY AS TIDE REACHES 10.6 FT IN THE MORNING CONDITIONS SHOULD
START TO ABATE.  WILL HOLD OFF MENTIONING ANY COASTAL PROBLEMS ON
WEDNESDAY AT THIS TIME...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FOR POTENTIAL
COASTAL FLOODING/EROSION PROBLEMS.

ATTN. NWS WFOS AND MPC...
PRELIMINARY COASTAL FORECAST AVBL IN AWIPS UNDER PWMWRKCWF.  WORK
ZONES NOT AVBL ATTM.

FCSTID = 2

.GYX...
ME...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY FOR ZONES
     MEZ018>019...MEZ023>024.
  ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY FOR
     ZONES MEZ007>009...MEZ012>014...MEZ020>022...MEZ025>028.
  ...MARINE STORM WARNING.

NH...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY FOR ZONES
     NHZ005>010...NHZ013>014.
  ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY FOR
     ZONES NHZ001>004.
  ...MARINE STORM WARNING.

SJC

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 heavy snow, 11 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Androscoggin

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Androscoggin forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal Cumberland

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal Waldo

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal York

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal York forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior Cumberland

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior Waldo

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior York

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Interior York forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kennebec

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Kennebec forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.409, -69.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Knox

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.076, -69.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lincoln

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.998, -69.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Oxford

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sagadahoc

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Sagadahoc forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.912, -69.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Franklin

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.974, -70.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Oxford

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Somerset

When: March 5, 8:00 AM EST to March 6, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Somerset forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 45.514, -69.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Androscoggin

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Androscoggin forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Coastal Cumberland

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Coastal Waldo

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Coastal York

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal York forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Interior Cumberland

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Interior Waldo

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Interior York

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior York forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kennebec

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Kennebec forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.409, -69.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Knox

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 44.076, -69.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lincoln

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.998, -69.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sagadahoc

When: March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Sagadahoc forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.912, -69.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maine in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Maine, March 2001

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: 5236810, 5236811, 5236812, 5236813, 5236814, 5236815, 5236816, 5236817, 5236818, 5236819, 5236820, 5236821, 5236822, 5236823, 5236824, 5236825, 5236826, 5236827, 5236828, 5236829, 5236830, 5236831, 5236832, 5236833, 5236834, 5236835.