Maine, 2024

Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Maine, December 23 to 24, 2024

December 23 to 24, 2024 · NWS CAR · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Fast moving low pressure intensified south of the region during the night of the 23rd. The low then tracked across the Gulf of Maine and along the Downeast coast through the 24th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
10

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 CAR wrote it up.

Fast moving low pressure intensified south of the region during the night of the 23rd. The low then tracked across the Gulf of Maine and along the Downeast coast through the 24th. Snow developed from the late evening of the 23rd through the early morning hours of the 24th. Snow then diminished...from northwest to southeast...through the 24th. Warning criteria snow accumulations occurred through the morning of the 24th. Storm total snow accumulations across Downeast areas generally ranged from 6 to 10 inches. A persistent meso-scale snowband produced snow fall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour across southern and central portions of Piscataquis county. Snow totals in this area ranged from 7 to 12 inches. Snow totals diminished northward across the remainder of the region...tapering to 1 to 3 inches across northern areas furthest from the low track.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy snow, 3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Central Piscataquis

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Central Piscataquis forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strom total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 8 inches.

Heavy Snow, Southern Piscataquis

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Piscataquis forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strom total snow accumulations ranged from 8 to 12 inches.

Heavy Snow, Southern Penobscot

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Penobscot forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 8 inches.

Heavy Snow, Interior Hancock

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Hancock forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 8 inches.

Heavy Snow, Coastal Hancock

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Hancock forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 7 inches.

Heavy Snow, Central Washington

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Central Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations generally ranged from 6 to 8 inches...with localized totals to 10 inches.

Heavy Snow, Coastal Washington

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations generally ranged from 6 to 8 inches...with localized totals to 9 inches.

Winter Weather, Northern Penobscot

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Penobscot forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 3 to 5 inches.

Winter Weather, Southeast Aroostook

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Aroostook forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 3 to 6 inches.

Winter Weather, Northern Washington

When
December 23, 11:00 PM EST to December 24, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 7 inches.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maine in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, December 2024

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: 1226018, 1226019, 1226020, 1226021, 1226022, 1226023, 1226024, 1226025, 1226026, 1226027.