Maine, 2026Blizzard and Winter Storm in Maine, February 23, 2026
February 23, 2026 · NWS GYX · 4 events in 2 counties and zones
Low pressure began to develop over the Southeast on the morning of the 22nd. By the evening it had moved to a position off the Carolinas and was deepening rapidly.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
Low pressure began to develop over the Southeast on the morning of the 22nd. By the evening it had moved to a position off the Carolinas and was deepening rapidly. Between 7 pm on the 22nd and 7 am on the 23rd, central pressure in the storm dropped from 991 mb to 966 mb. The intense low pressure combined with high pressure around 1045 mb building into Quebec to produce a strong pressure gradient across the region. The result was strong wind gusts through much of the day on the 23rd. While the heaviest snowfall remained largely over southern New England, the edge of the moderate snow did move into southwestern Maine. The combination of the two produced blizzard conditions and near-zero visibility at times. While winds continued to gust into the evening, snowfall tapered off in the late afternoon hours on the 23rd. Key Messages: blizzard conditions, strong wind gusts, dangerous travel, traffic accidents.
What forecasters said that day
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 Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 1:25 AM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1. Significant Nor'easter will bring blizzard conditions to coastal Maine and New Hampshire with decreasing snow/wind away from the coast. 2. Significant Nor'easter will bring coastal flooding to the coast of New Hampshire and southern Maine. 3. After a brief break Tuesday, the active pattern resumes with the region seeing another chance at wintry precipitation Wednesday with light snowfall and possible slick travel. Another system approaches late week but features more uncertainty.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 1:25 AM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
125 AM EST Mon Feb 23 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Guidance is continuing to trend eastward for today's
Nor'easter. The current forecast remains on track, and Blizzard
conditions are still expected despite slightly lower snow totals
forecast.
Chances have increased for a round of light snowfall on
Wednesday.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Significant Nor'easter will bring blizzard conditions to
coastal Maine and New Hampshire with decreasing snow/wind away
from the coast.
2. Significant Nor'easter will bring coastal flooding to the
coast of New Hampshire and southern Maine.
3. After a brief break Tuesday, the active pattern resumes with the
region seeing another chance at wintry precipitation Wednesday with
light snowfall and possible slick travel. Another system approaches
late week but features more uncertainty.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...As of midnight, light snow is
trickling northward into southern New Hampshire. Most recent
ensemble guidance has still been waffling over how far north the
snowfall makes it in northern New England, but the general
trend appears to be a continued eastward trend in the low
center. I remain very confident that substantial snowfall will
occur across southern New Hampshire and York county. The
Midcoast will probably see more significant totals as well. The
current forecast and headlines are largely on track at this
time. The adjustments to the snowfall forecast are mainly to
incorporate more hi-res guidance, which decreased snow totals
across the north and left totals mostly the same along the coast
and in the south.
We continue to expect a sharp cutoff across the foothills
region and into the mountains with advisory level snowfall and
gusty winds still causing difficult travel. Still have no
headlines further north where it is very possible very little
snow falls.
Heavy winds with falling snow will create blizzard conditions,
even if less snow falls than expected. Travel along the coast,
especially along I-95, US-1 and NH-101 will be extremely
dangerous. Winds may gust to 50mph along the coast for several
hours during periods of moderate to heavy snow. This combination
will lead to extreme reductions in visibility and the
aforementioned blizzard conditions. Blizzard conditions will be
most prevalent from late morning Monday until the late Monday
evening. Snow will be dry, but snow ratios should not
necessarily be high either. The drier character of the snow
should help prevent snow from loading onto trees, and this storm
poses a limited power outage threat.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...Coastal flood warning issued for
Monday afternoon tide cycle with 2-3' storm surge combining with
10-15' nearshore waves for minor levels of inundation...beach
erosion...and splashover. Water levels will be significantly
lower than the events in January 2024...and wind direction /
waves suggests greatest impacts south of Portland and esp along
the NH Seacoast. Wild card is the presence of ice in
bays/inlets given the cold winter we/ve experienced...and while
we can/t model how this will impact the flooding...expect any
dislodged ice to simply add to potential impacts with ice/rocks
possible on coastal roadways.
KEY MESSAGE 3 DESCRIPTION...
The strong nor'easter will lift into the Maritimes by Tuesday with a
northwest flow pattern across northern New England in its wake. This
will bring the usual upslope snow showers and cloudy skies in the
mountains, but there may be a couple of snow showers/flurries or at
least more cloud cover downwind as a 500mb shortwave crosses through.
After the brief break, a clipper system brings another opportunity
for wintry precipitation to the region late Tuesday and into
Wednesday with slick travel possible to both commutes on the table.
Precipitation type will be mostly snow, although can't rule out
mixing with rain along the coast with winds being onshore. The
progressive nature of this system and QPF from the ensembles favor a
pretty light event with amounts on the order of 1-3", but hints of a
secondary low near the Maine coast could produce a corridor of
higher amounts upwards of 4" or more.
Once this system exits to the east, there will be a break, but it
will again be brief with the next system quickly approaching later
Thursday into Friday. Signs are pointing to this system to have more
robust moisture to work with and higher potential QPF, but there is
still a fair amount of spread in the track. So rain, snow, and even
a mix are possible at this point.
Models are in fairly good agreement for the weekend with mostly dry
weather. However, a wave moving across southern Canada and a cold
front approaching the west could bring some light precipitation for
northern areas.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Through 06Z Tuesday...VFR/MVFR turning IFR/LIFR as light snow
overspreads the region overnight from S to N. Ceilings will fall
rapidly upon the arrival of the snow. Winds will steadily
increase, with gusts around 40KT+ for coastal and southern
terminals today. Will need to monitor the need for LLWS despite
some surface winds around 20-25kt. Snow rates will pick up
early Mon morning, peaking in the afternoon with VSBY's dropping
between 0.5-0.25 miles. Snow diminishes this evening into
tonight with improvement to VFR expected.
Outlook...
Tuesday: VFR expected, except MVFR ceilings and snow showers
possible at HIE.
Tuesday night: Ceilings could lower to MVFR or IFR as low pressure
approaches. Light snow may begin in NH between 06-12Z Wednesday.
Wednesday: Light snow and IFR restrictions likely.
Wednesday night: Improving conditions with a return to VFR.
Thursday: VFR early with restrictions possible later in the day.
Thursday night-Friday: Widespread restrictions possible.
Precipitation type could be both rain and snow across the area
depending on the track of the system.
&&
.MARINE...
North to northeasterly Storm force winds are expected through
the day today, with seas increasing through the day. Wave
heights are expected to reach 10-18ft by the end of the day on
today.
Northwest gales possible early in the morning Tuesday with more
of a transition to SCA conditions the rest of the day.
The weather pattern remains active the rest of the week with a
clipper system bringing another chance of SCA conditions on
Wednesday into the first part of Thursday. A more potent low
pressure could bring more SCA conditions and maybe a period of gales
Thursday night into Friday, but the track is very uncertain. After
a brief period of high pressure Friday night or early Saturday,
another system looks to approach from the west.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM to 10 PM EST Monday for
MEZ012>014-033.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM EST Monday for MEZ018.
Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM to 10 PM EST Monday for
MEZ019>022.
Blizzard Warning from 7 AM to 10 PM EST Monday for MEZ023>028.
Coastal Flood Warning from 1 PM to 6 PM EST Monday for MEZ023.
NH...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM to 10 PM EST Monday for
NHZ004-005-007.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM EST Monday for NHZ006-008>011-
015.
Coastal Flood Warning from 1 PM to 6 PM EST Monday for NHZ014.
Blizzard Warning until 10 PM EST Monday for NHZ012>014.
MARINE...Storm Warning from 7 AM to 10 PM EST Monday for ANZ150>154.
&&
DISCUSSION...Palmer/Arnott/CombsBlizzard, Coastal York
- When
- February 23, 4:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
- Where
- Coastal York forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Accumulating snow did not begin until around 4 am on the 23rd, but winds had already become gusty around midnight. As a result visibility was quickly reduced to 1/2 mile or less shortly after the snow started falling. During the mid morning into the early afternoon the neighboring Portland International Jetport and Portsmouth International Airport at Pease observed blizzard conditions for nearly 5 straight hours. The heavy snow only reached the Kittery area, with snowfall totals ranging from 3 to 9 inches.
Winter Storm, Coastal York
- When
- February 23, 4:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
- Where
- Coastal York forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
While the heaviest snow largely remained south of the southwest Maine beaches, moderate accumulations combined with strong wind gusts to produce blizzard conditions. Travel was dangerous through the day on the 23rd.
Blizzard, Coastal Cumberland
- When
- February 23, 7:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
- Where
- Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Accumulating snow did not begin until around 7 am on the 23rd, but winds had already become gusty around midnight. As a result visibility was quickly reduced to 1/2 mile or less shortly after the snow started falling. During the mid morning into the early afternoon the Portland International Jetport observed blizzard conditions for nearly 5 straight hours. A peak wind gust of 56 mph was observed at 1156 am. The heavy snow never quite reached the Casco Bay area, and snowfall totals ranged from 3 to 6 inches.
Winter Storm, Coastal Cumberland
- When
- February 23, 7:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
- Where
- Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
While the heaviest snow largely remained south of the Casco Bay area, moderate accumulations combined with strong wind gusts to produce blizzard conditions. Travel was dangerous through the day on the 23rd.
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Wyoming, February 23 to 26, 202671 kt wind · 15 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, February 23 to 26, 202671 kt wind · 13 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Maine, February 23, 202610 events
- High Wind in New York, February 23, 202673 kt wind · 9 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Hampshire, February 23, 20267 events
- Coastal Flood in New Jersey, February 23, 20265 events
- Coastal Flood in Delaware, February 23, 20262 events
- High Wind in Connecticut, February 23, 202659 kt wind · 2 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, February 23 to 25, 202654 kt wind · 2 events
- High Surf in Hawaii, February 23 to 24, 20261 event
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: 1308423, 1308426, 1308357, 1308425.