Intensifying low pressure tracking east of the Gulf of Maine brought heavy snow to portions of the region. Snow expanded across the region through the afternoon of the 9th then persisted into the morning of the 10th.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 Gulf of Maine brought heavy snow to portions of the region. Snow expanded across the region through the afternoon of the 9th then persisted into the morning of the 10th. Warning criteria snow accumulations occurred through the early morning hours of the 10th. Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 7 to 10 inches across northern and central portions of Piscataquis county...with 5 to 8 inches across northern Penobscot and northeast Aroostook counties. Snow accumulations of 6 to 9 inches were also reported across much of coastal Hancock county.
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 9, 10:30 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
1030 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure will strengthen south of Cape Cod today and track
south of Nova Scotia late tonight. The low will lift north
through the Maritimes on Sunday. Another low pressure system
will track through the Gulf of Maine by mid-week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
1000 AM Update: Chgs this update included slowing down the onset
tmg of snfl by about an hr or two based on later arrival of snfl
to Nrn mid Atlc and SE New Eng states this morn. Otherwise we
increased Cld cvr across the N based on latest sat imagery.
Lastly, we updated fcst hrly temps/dwpts across the Rgn based
on latest sfc obs with fcst highs across Downeast areas lowered
a deg or two given little or no additional sunshine factor and
the potential of evaporational cooling with snfl onset this
aftn.
Orgnl Disc: Low pres is currently sitting south of the NC
coast. S/wv shearing out of the southeast U.S. is expected to
phase with wv currently dropping thru the upr Midwest. This wl
help intensify low to the south of Cape Cod nr the benchmark by
00z tonight. Expect that pcpn wl mv from south to north
beginning arnd 15z this mrng with coastal areas experiencing
categorical pops by 18z. May see light snow to start off with
along the immediate coast bfr mixing with or changing to rain in
the aftn as blyr warms. The most lkly area for this to occur is
near Eastport where temps are currently in the m/u 30s as of
08z. Elsewhere along the coast, with the exception of the outer
islands, locations look to be blo frzg at this hr. Depending on
how much temps are able to warm this mrng, pcpn could vry easily
be all snow. For this reason hv issued Winter Wx Advisory for
coastal Hancock County where the higher terrain further inland
may pick up 3- 5 inches thru Sunday morning.
Elsewhere, models have rmnd fairly similar to prior runs with the
exception of the 00z GFS. The GFS had a fairly noticeable shift to
the east with the latest EC shifting east by a very negligible amnt.
Either way, thinking is that coastal wl track just to the south of
Nova Scotia with widespread 3-6 inches acrs the CWA. Hv issued
Winter Wx Advisory for all but coastal Washington, northern Somerset
and northeast Aroostook. Interior Downeast and Bangor region look to
see accumulating snowfall around 19z while northern areas around 22z
this afternoon.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
The model guidance is in good agreement through the near term
period of the forecast. A low pressure system will be exiting
the region over the Canadian Maritimes. An upper level low will
be center over Northern Quebec, with a trough extending south to
the eastern Great Lakes. By Monday morning the trough will move
east to the Gulf of Maine. The ECMWF show a low along the
Downeast coast, the GFS/GEM shows deepen of the trough which
could also support a low along the coast of Maine. A new low
will form in the upper Midwest, and by the end of the period
Monday evening move east to Lake Michigan.
Loaded a blend of the GFS/NAM/ECMWF to smooth out the minor
differences in the models. Loaded NAWAVE4 for seas in the
coastal waters. Loaded windgust by factor tool. For QPF used
GFS.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
The extended models are in good agreement at the start of the
period. Monday evening a weak ridge of higher pressure will
build into the area ahead of the next system Tuesday morning. A
low moving across the Great Lakes will be over Lake Ontario,
with a frontal system extending east across New Jersey into the
north Atlantic. The cold front interacting with the warmer
waters along the Atlantic coast is expected to form a secondary
low on the Front near Cape Cod. This low will track into
southeastern Maine Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning the models
diverge a bit on their solutions. The GFS moves the low to
northern Maine, with an upper level low digging south to NE New
York. The ECMWF move the low east to the mouth of the St
Lawrence, also showing the upper low digging south into central
New York. The GEM shows a broad area of lower pressure extending
from Northern Maine to the mouth of the St Lawrence, and the
upper low centered over Vermont. So the average position would
be the GFS. By Wednesday evening the upper low will move east
across Maine. Thursday morning northern Maine will remain under
wrap around precipitation as the upper low continues to move
east. A new low will form over the Great Lakes Thursday morning.
The GFS and ECMWF have this low tracking east into the North
Atlantic near Cape Cod Friday morning. Again the models diverge
on solution, the GFS deepens the low and tracks it east to the
Bay of Fundy. The ECMWF move it rapidly east to the south coast
of Newfoundland. Higher pressure will ridge in for Friday
evening through Saturday afternoon. Another low will track east
across southern Canada bringing a warm front into Maine Saturday
evening, with the associated cold front moving into NW Maine by
the end of the period.
Loaded a blend to smooth out the differences in the models,
however the solution leans more towards the GFS solution. Used
NAWAVE4 for seas in the coastal waters. Used windgust by factor
tool.
&&
.AVIATION /16Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
NEAR TERM: VFR for all terminals this morning with southern
terminals lowering to MVFR after 18z. Expect IFR in light snow
after 21z thru end of TAF valid time at BGR and BHB.
Further north, VFR expected until 22z at HUL and 00z for
terminals to the north. Expect IFR in -sn at all terminals after
00z tonight.
SHORT TERM: A weak ridge of higher pressure will build into
Maine. VFR conditions for BGR and BHB. MVFR conditions at HUL,
PQI, CAR, and FVE at the start of the period. A trough will move
through Maine Monday morning bring all sites to lower MVFR
conditions in scattered snowshowers. The trough will move east
of the area early Monday afternoon, conditions will improve to
VFR. VFR conditions will give way to IFR conditions as a cold
front move into the area early Tuesday morning, Conditons will
begin to improve south to north Tuesday evening as the low and
cold front clears the area. VFR conditions in BGR and BHB, MVFR
conditions at all other sites. Conditions will fall back into
IFR conditions as the upper low moves through Maine Wednesday
morning through the end of the period.
&&
.MARINE...
NEAR TERM: SCA conditions will develop this evening as low
pressure tracks through the Gulf of Maine. Seas will increase
above 5 feet after midnight as southerly swell builds in.
SHORT TERM: A Small Craft Advisory will likely be in effect
through the short term portion of the forecast for winds and
seas.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST
Sunday for MEZ002-004>006-010-011-031-032.
Winter Weather Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 7 AM EST
Sunday for MEZ015>017-029.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 8 PM EST Sunday
for ANZ050>052.
&&
Near Term...VJN
Short Term...Norton
Long Term...Norton
Aviation...VJN/Norton
Marine...VJN/NortonHazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED National Weather Service Caribou ME 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 MEZ002-004>006-010-011-031-032-100830- Northeast Aroostook-Northern Piscataquis-Northern Penobscot- Southeast Aroostook-Central Piscataquis-Central Penobscot- Southern Piscataquis-Northern Washington- 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for East Central Maine...Eastern Maine...Far Northern Maine...North Central Maine and Northern Maine. .DAY ONE...Today 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. Mid week system will bring another round snowfall to the area. Advisory level snowfall is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ015>017-029-100830- Southern Penobscot-Interior Hancock-Central Washington- Coastal Hancock- 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Coastal DownEast Maine and Interior DownEast Maine. .DAY ONE...Today 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. Mid week system will bring another round snowfall to the area. Advisory level snowfall is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ001-003-100830- Northwest Aroostook-Northern Somerset- 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Far Northern Maine and West Central Maine. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Low pressure will cross south of the Gulf of Maine tonight. Snow will spread into the area later this afternoon. Total snow accumulations will range from 2-4 inches into Sunday morning. Be prepared for slippery driving conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Mid week system will bring another round snowfall to the area. Advisory level snowfall is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ030-100830- Coastal Washington- 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Coastal DownEast Maine. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Low pressure will cross south of the Gulf of Maine tonight. Rain and snow will spread into the area by afternoon before becoming all snow overnight. Total snow accumulations will range from 2-4 inches into Sunday morning. Be prepared for slippery driving conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Mid week system will bring another round snowfall to the area. Advisory level snowfall is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ050>052-100830- Coastal Waters from Eastport, ME to Schoodic Point, ME out 25 NM- Coastal Waters from Schoodic Point, ME to Stonington, ME out 25 NM- Intra Coastal Waters from Schoodic Point, ME to Stonington, ME- 450 AM EST Sat Dec 9 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Gale force winds may briefly occur Sunday evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 9 inches.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 8 inches.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 7 to 11 inches.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 8 inches.
Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 10 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, December 2017
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: 730837, 730838, 730839, 730840, 730841.