CAMDEN — A powerful winter storm that has been dubbed “Grayson” is expected to rip through coastal Maine Thursday into Friday, bringing approximately a foot of snow and blizzard conditions to the Midcoast region after more than a week of staggering low temperatures.

The storm has already affected states as far south as Florida, where there were areas of snow on Wednesday.

By Wednesday at 11 a.m. the National Weather Service had issued a blizzard warning for Knox County which will take effect at 12 p.m. on Thursday and run until 1 a.m. Friday. The National Weather Service forecast for the county was as follows:

“Low pressure developing east of Florida today will rapidly intensify as it moves up the eastern seaboard to a position off the New England coast on Thursday and into the Canadian Maritimes Thursday night. This storm has the potential to bring heavy snow and strong winds...especially to coastal sections of western Maine and New Hampshire where blizzard conditions are expected. Some uncertainty remains with regards to the exact track of this storm...so stay tuned to later updates. As this storm departs on Friday...bitterly cold air will arrive from Canada...along with strong northwesterly winds.”

According to the Weather Channel, Grayson will “undergo bombogenesis off the Eastern Seaboard into Thursday, becoming an intense ocean low producing heavy snow, blizzard conditions, damaging winds and coastal flooding in New England.”

Bombogenesis is a weather phenomenon wherein atmospheric pressure drops a minimum of 24 millibars over a 24 hour period. The development will intensify the ferocity of the storm.

The National Weather Service is predicting wind gusts as strong as 50 mph which are expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, and contribute to “dangerous to impossible” travel conditions during the storm.

National news outlets including NBC, Time and USA Today have been following Grayson, and the storm has been described in the media as a “bomb cyclone.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Bombogenesis, a popular term used by meteorologists, occurs when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars over 24 hours. A millibar measures atmospheric pressure. This can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters. The formation of this rapidly strengthening weather system is a process called bombogenesis, which creates what is known as a bomb cyclone.”

Knox County Emergency Management Association Director Ray Sisk said that he spent the morning meeting with officials from the Town of Union regarding emergency shelters and public resources.

“We love to see towns doing that, and we do everything we can to support them,” he said.

He added that he has also been working closely with the City of Rockland where there are presently three warming centers open, they will remain open through the weekend he said. Additionally, Knox County EMA releases warming center information via Facebook as it is available.

The current Rockland warming centers are located in the City Council Chambers during business hours through Friday, The Flanagan Community Center during business hours and the Rockland Public Library during business hours. Sisk said Rockland Fire Chief Chris Wytock would be investigating whether “the locations have the opportunity and ability to extend their hours.”

Sisk said warming centers are typically located at libraries or town offices in respective towns, but advised to keep an eye on the EMA Facebook page for updates.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Sisk said that the snowfall prediction for Knox County was hovering at 12 to 18 inches with the most likely total in the range of 13 inches. Top gusts were approximated at 52 mph, an estimate that he said had decreased slightly. He added the highest winds would likely occur overnight Thursday. Snowfall will start fairly slowly and increase as Thursday goes on, he said.

Sisk said that “tightly packed isobars indicate a fairly strong storm” which he stated was one of his concerns. An isobar is a line on a weather map connecting points experiencing the same atmospheric pressure at a specific time or on average over a period of time.

“This is a nor’easter,” Sisk said. Adding that “bomb cyclone” is essentially a “scary term for a nor’easter.”

Sisk echoed national weather services in describing the impact on visibility that Grayson is predicted to bring.

“The real challenge will be blowing snow and severely reduced visibility,” he said.

Sisk advised residents to do a few things in order to be prepared for the impending storm. Those items include making sure that all appliances that vent exhaust to the outside of the home are routinely checked and cleared and shoveling a path to your heating oil fill to ensure it is accessible.

He advised residents to do all storm prep Wednesday, including checking batteries, provisions, and ensuring a water supply for those who are not hooked into municipal water.

“Tomorrow, we want you to stay home,” he said, “it’s foolish for someone to go out in blizzard conditions, it’s just not worth it.” He added that not only does staying in reduce personal risk, it mitigates putting first responders at risk in the event that they have to respond to a call in sub-optimal conditions.

“It also makes it that much easier for the plow crews if people stay off the roads,” he said. Sisk also advised those impacted by the storm to do their best to “be patient” during the storm.

Sisk encouraged residents to check on their neighbors, especially elderly neighbors or those who might need an extra hand.

“Helping your neighbors is always a good thing,” he said.

On Thursday, January 4 all Maine State and Legislative offices were closed due to the storm. Governor Paul LePage issued the following statement:

"Travel conditions are expected to be treacherous," said Governor LePage. "I encourage Mainers to stay off the roads and avoid traveling unless it is an emergency. Avoiding unnecessary travel will keep accidents to a minimum and allow state and municipal road crews to safely go about their work."

Jenna Lookner can be reached at jlooknercopy@gmail.com