Maine, 2020

Heavy Snow in Maine, January 16, 2020

January 16, 2020 · NWS GYX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Weak low pressure formed on the morning of the 15th along a stationary boundary and moved up the Ohio River Valley and into the Northeast through the 16th. The system occluded and continued to move northeast, with the triple point passing south of southern New England.

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.

Weak low pressure formed on the morning of the 15th along a stationary boundary and moved up the Ohio River Valley and into the Northeast through the 16th. The system occluded and continued to move northeast, with the triple point passing south of southern New England. Secondary low pressure began to develop at the triple point on the afternoon of the 16th, rapidly deepening as it departed through the Gulf of Maine. The approach of a kicker shortwave helped to maintain an inverted trough northwest of the departing low, concentrating an area of snowfall over parts of eastern New Hampshire and western Maine.

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, Interior York

When
January 16, 2:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Interior York forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained north of Route 202. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 4 inches near the Maine Turnpike to 10 inches of heavy, wet snow north of Route 11.

Heavy Snow, Southern Oxford

When
January 16, 3:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained south of Route 2. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 6 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow.

Heavy Snow, Interior Cumberland

When
January 16, 3:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained overhead for much of the day. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 8 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow.

Heavy Snow, Coastal Cumberland

When
January 16, 3:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained mainly north of Portland. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 4 inches near Cape Elizabeth to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow near Brunswick.

Heavy Snow, Androscoggin

When
January 16, 4:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Androscoggin forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained mainly west of the Androscoggin River. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 6 to 9 inches of heavy, wet snow.

Heavy Snow, Northern Oxford

When
January 16, 5:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Oxford forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow began in the early morning hours of the 16th. The most persistent and heaviest bands of snow remained near Route 2. Snow was moderate to heavy at times during the day, with an inch or more falling in an hour at times. Snow tapered off in the afternoon before coming to an end. Totals ranged from 4 inches north of Route 16 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow in the Mahoosuc Mountains .

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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 865816, 865815, 865817, 865818, 865819, 865814.