GRAY — As if we haven't seen enough weather, meteorologists have now issued a snow advisory for the Midcoast for 3 to 5 inches of snow Dec. 26. The advisory area extends from Boothbay Harbor to Augusta to Belfast and Winterport. 

As of 2:42 a.m. Dec. 26, the National Weather Service’s weather advisory is in effect through 10 p.m. Very light snow is expected Thursday morning, becoming gradually heavier through the morning hours. The heaviest snowfall will occur in the afternoon and into the evening. The snow is generally expected to be light and fluffy, but could become more wet, and heavier, as temperatures rise later in the day, especially along the coast.

Low pressure will form over the Gulf of Maine tomorrow morning and then head for the Maritimes. The snow will spread from the southwest beginning late Wednesday night. While elsewhere, snowfall amounts are to be 1 to 4 inches, the Midcoast is expected to see 3 to 5 inches, and the snow may turn to rain at times along the immediate coastline.

“This advisory area is across the same region hit hardest by the ice storm,” said the Maine Emergency Management Agency. “The added weight of snow on already ice-laden trees and power lines could add to the number of power outages. Icy and snow-covered roads will make repair efforts more difficult for power companies.”

National Weather Service forecast

The latest from Central Maine Power

CMP reports that 39,000 customer accounts remain without power after an estimated 123,000 lost service due to damage from an ice storm that struck Maine on Monday morning. CMP expects to reduce the number of outages to fewer than 30,000 customers by tonight.

“With help from companies from Canada and throughout the northeast, we have five times our normal number of line crews, and they have made steady progress in every county affected by the storm,” said John Carroll. “The work will continue through the night, but we realize that’s not much comfort to those customers facing another cold night.”

The CMP restoration effort included 1,800 personnel on Christmas Day including 455 line crews and 330 tree crews. CMP reported that it had at least one full restoration team on every circuit serving every community with outages.

Outages as of 8:15 a.m., Dec. 26

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Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657