GRAY — The National Weather Service in Gray has issued a winter weather advisory for southern and central Maine up through Winterport. Three to six inches of snow are in the forecast for areas that include Unity, Waldoboro, Camden, Rockland, Thomaston, Belfast and Lincolnville, among others.

The advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday.

According to the NWS, low pressure off the mid-Atantic coast will intensify rapidly as it moves to the northeaast today and tonight, staying out to sea. However, the track of the low is just close enough to produce several inches of snow over southern areas of Maine and New Hampshire, with the highest totals near the coast.

Once the low heads for the martimes late Saturday night and Sunday, the snow will end with strong and gusty northwest winds, ushering in drier but colder weather.

Highs will be in the mid 20s to lower 30s Saturday and lows will be in the teens to lower 20s tonight. Winds will be northeast at 5 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph.

National Weather Service seven-day forecast

Saturday: Snow likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 30 F. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming northeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than 1 inch possible.

Saturday night: Snow. Low around 21 F. Northeast wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow showers likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 28 F. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than 1 inch possible.

Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 12 F. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind 10 to 16 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27 F. West wind 7 to 13 mph.

Monday night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20 F.

New Year's Day (Tuesday): Mostly sunny, with a high near 28 F.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6 F.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26 F.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8 F.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 20 F.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2 F.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 16 F.