Heavy Snow in Maine, December 26 to 27, 2005

Slow moving low pressure intensified while tracking along the Maine coast to Nova Scotia from the 26th to the 27th. Snow developed in advance of this low during the morning of December 25th. Snow continued through the 25th...with increasing intensities starting later on the 25th. Snow...heavy at times...continued through the 26th with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times. Winds increased to 20 to 30 mph during the 26th...with similar wind speeds continuing into the 27th. These winds contributed to extensive blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall intensities began to diminish late on the 26th...with lighter snows continuing through much of the morning of the 27th. Storm total snow accumulations during the 48 hours of this event ranged from 30 to 40 inches across northern portions of Aroostook county. Some specific snow totals included 40 inches at Clayton Lake...38 inches at Plaisted...36 to 37 inches at Madawaska and Fort Kent...31 to 32 inches at Caribou and Portage and 30 inches at Washburn. Precipitation in these areas was snow for much of this event...though the snow did mix with sleet and freezing rain at times particularly from Caribou to Portage to Washburn. Storm total snow accumulations decreased to the south of Caribou where a greater portion of the precipitation fell in the form of sleet and freezing rain. In the Presque Isle area...10 miles south of Caribou...storm total snow accumulations of 24 to 30 inches were reported. Another 10 miles to the south of Presque Isle...around 18 inches of snow were reported at Mars Hill.The combination of heavy snow...along with extensive blowing and drifting snow...made roads nearly impassable at times across portions of the Saint John Valley in northernmost Aroostook county. The combination of heavy snow accumulating on trees and gusty winds snapped some branches which fell on powerlines contributing to power outages. The weight of heavy snow and ice building up on powerlines also brought down some lines. The event storm total snow accumulations from the Caribou area northward to the Saint John Valley were record or near record values.