Maine, 2020

Heavy Snow in Maine, February 18 to 19, 2020

February 18 to 19, 2020 · NWS GYX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Early on the 18th a strong high pressure and a fresh cold air mass had settled over New England. Low pressure formed over the Mid Mississippi Valley and tracked through the Great Lakes into southern Canada.

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

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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.

Early on the 18th a strong high pressure and a fresh cold air mass had settled over New England. Low pressure formed over the Mid Mississippi Valley and tracked through the Great Lakes into southern Canada. Warm air advection around the backside of the high and ahead of the low provided the lift for light snow starting on the morning of the 18th. Light snow continued through the day until a secondary wave of low pressure developed off the southern New England coast in the evening. This produced one final burst of moderate snow before tapering off around midnight.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Oxford

When
February 18, 10:00 AM EST to February 19, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 5 to 7 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow, Southern Oxford

When
February 18, 10:00 AM EST to February 19, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 6 to 8 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow, Interior Cumberland

When
February 18, 11:00 AM EST to February 19, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 5 to 7 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow, Northern Franklin

When
February 18, 12:00 PM EST to February 19, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.974, -70.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 6 to 8 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow, Central Somerset

When
February 18, 12:00 PM EST to February 19, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Central Somerset forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.514, -69.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 6 to 7 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow, Southern Franklin

When
February 18, 12:00 PM EST to February 19, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.974, -70.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow began on the morning of the 18th ahead of an approaching front. During the afternoon snow became moderate to heavy at times when a secondary wave developed near the southern New England coast. Snow quickly came to an end in the evening, but not before 6 to 8 inches of snow fell.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maine in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, February 2020

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: 871167, 871170, 871171, 871168, 871169, 871172.