Intensifying low pressure tracking east of the region brought heavy snow to central and northern portions of Washington county. then continued into the evening of the 7th.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS CAR wrote it up.
Intensifying low pressure tracking east of the region brought heavy snow to central and northern portions of Washington county. The snow began during the late afternoon and evening of the 6th...then continued into the evening of the 7th. Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 7 to 12 inches.
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 Caribou, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 6, 4:21 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
421 PM EST SAT DEC 6 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING ALONG THE MID ATLANTIC REGION WILL MOVE
NORTHEAST TONIGHT AND THEN TRACK ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF
NOVA SCOTIA DURING SUNDAY. THE LOW WILL THE CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY
AS IT TRACKS NORTHEAST THROUGH THE MARITIMES SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY. THIS WILL BRING BLUSTERY AND COLDER CONDITIONS TO START THE
WORK WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING RADAR/SATELLITE/SPOTTER REPORTS CLOSELY
TODAY SINCE NEAR TERM MODELS DID NOT DO A VERY GOOD JOB PICKING UP
ON THE AREAL EXTENT OR INTENSITY OF THE AREA OF SNOW THAT MOVE
NORTH ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND DOWNEAST MAINE TODAY.
RADAR CURRENTLY SHOWS THE AREA OF SNOW AFFECTING EASTERN MOST
ZONES ATTM. GFS/NAM DO HINT THAT THIS BAND OF SNOW WILL REGENERATE
ACROSS THE EASTERN MOST PORTIONS OF THE FA LATER THIS EVENING
AND CONTINUE INTO EARLY SUNDAY. RADAR MOSAIC IS ALREADY HINTING
AT THIS AND IS ALREADY SHOWING SOME WEAK RETURNS OFF OUR DOWNEAST
COAST AS RADAR IS LIKELY OVERSHOOTING THIS ACTIVITY. WE HAVE EXTENDED
THE WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR SNOW UNTIL 18Z SUN FOR ALL OF OUR EASTERN
MOST ZONES 2/5/6/11/32/16/17/29/30.
EXPECTING ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THE EASTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY AND NEW BRUNSWICK BORDER REGION...AND
GENERALLY AND 2 TO 5 INCHES ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE ADVISORY
AREA WITH THE LOWER AMOUNTS EXPECTED ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST
INTO SUNDAY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
MODELS NOW CONVERGING ON SOLUTION THAT BRINGS DEVELOPING OCEAN
LOW ON TRACK ACROSS CENTRAL/EASTERN NOVA SCOTIA SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THIS TRACK WILL BRING HEAVIEST SYNOPTIC SCALE PRECIPITATION TO THE
EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE NAM12 INDICATES SOME BANDING TO THE
WEST OF THE TRACK ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY SUNDAY.
THE CARWRF ALSO INDICATES LOCALIZED BANDING. SO WILL INITIALIZE
POP GRIDS WITH NAM12...HAVE INCREASE SOME OF THE POPS BASED ON
SREF. FOR SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE TAKE QPF GRIDS GENERATED WITH NAM12
AND USED 10:1 RATIO FOR SNOW ACCUMULATION. SKY GRIDS ALSO BASED ON
NAM12. HAVE CREATED WIND...TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WITH GMOS.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AT THE START OF THE LONG TERM. A LOW
PRES SYS EXITING TO THE EAST OVER THE CANADIAN MARITIMES...HIGHER
PRES BUILDING ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD. THE ECMWF AND GFS
CONTINUE TO AGREE TROUGH 00Z WED WHEN A NEW LOW CENTERED IN THE
LOWER MID WEST WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDING NORTHEAST INTO NEW
HAMPSHIRE. FROM 12Z WED THE MODELS START TO SHOW SOME DIFFERENCES.
THE ECMWF HAS THE PRIMARY LOW IN SOUTHERN QUEBEC. THE GFS PLACES
IT CLEVELAND. THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG
TERM. THE MODELS WILL CONTINUE THIS DIFFERENCE OF OPINION THROUGH
THE END OF THE PERIOD. THE ECMWF SOLUTION MOVES RAPIDLY INTO THE
COASTAL WATERS BY 00Z THURSDAY. PROVIDING A BRIEF PERIOD OF STRONG
WINDS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND DOWNEAST COAST. THE GFS HAS A
TAKES THE LOW ON A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK KEEPING THE FRONTAL SYSTEM
OVER MAINE THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY PRODUCING A MORE DYNAMIC SOLUTION
STRONG GALE OVER THE WATERS AND STRONG WINDS INTO DOWNEAST. AFTER
COLLABORATION WITH GYX DECIDED TO GO WITH HPC GUIDE FROM 00Z THUR
THOUGH END OF PERIOD DUE TO SOME INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE GFS OVER
THE LAST FEW RUNS. THE HPC GUIDE APPEARS TO LEAN MORE TOWARD THE
ECMWF SOLUTION WITH LIGHTER WINDS/SMALLER SEAS WITH THE SYSTEM
MOVED THROUGH QUICKER.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
NEAR TERM: EXPECT MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP TONIGHT AND
CONTINUE INTO EARLY SUNDAY.
SHORT TERM: EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS SUNDAY AND INTO EARLY MONDAY AS
FRONTAL BANDS CROSS THE REGION. IFR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED
LATER MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE AGAIN TUESDAY
NIGHT INTO THURSDAY AS INTENSE LOW PRESSURE PASSES TO THE WEST OF
THE REGION.
&&
.MARINE...
NEAR TERM: WINDS/SEAS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE LATER TONIGHT AND
CONTINUE ON SUNDAY.
SHORT TERM: HAVE INITIALIZED WIND GRIDS WITH NAM12. GFS AND GMOS
WINDS USED AFTER 12Z SUNDAY. WITH COLD AIR TEMPERATURE WILL
INCREASE WIND SPEED SEVERAL KNOTS ABOVE MODEL COMBINATION. FOR
WAVES: HAVE USED WNA/4. WAVES PRIMARILY WIND DRIVEN. WILL KEEP
GALE WATCH IN PLACE.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM EST SUNDAY FOR MEZ002-005-
006-011-016-017-029-030-032.
MARINE...GALE WATCH FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING
FOR ANZ050>052.
&&
NEAR TERM...DUDA
SHORT TERM...MIGNONE
LONG TERM...NORTON
AVIATION...DUDA
MARINE...DUDA/MIGNONEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 335 PM EST SAT DEC 6 2008 MEZ002-005-006-011-016-017-029-030-032-072045- NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK- CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-INTERIOR HANCOCK-CENTRAL WASHINGTON- COASTAL HANCOCK-COASTAL WASHINGTON-NORTHERN WASHINGTON- 335 PM EST SAT DEC 6 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MAINE...NORTHERN MAINE AND SOUTHEAST MAINE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MEZ001-003-004-010-015-031-072045- NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN SOMERSET-NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS- 335 PM EST SAT DEC 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MAINE...NORTH CENTRAL MAINE...NORTHERN MAINE AND WEST CENTRAL MAINE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ050>052-072045- COASTAL WATERS FROM EASTPORT ME TO SCHOODIC POINT ME OUT 25 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT ME TO STONINGTON ME OUT 25 NM- INTRACOASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT ME TO STONINGTON ME- 335 PM EST SAT DEC 6 2008 ...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 7 to 12 inches.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 7 to 12 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, December 2008
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: 143882, 143883.