GRAY — A winter storm warning is now in effect for all but Down East Maine. Snow is predicted to quickly make travel hazardous Wednesday night across the region, and wet snow combined with expected strong winds may result in power outages.

Winds will be northeast at 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph. Temperatures will be in the lower 30s.

For the coast, the National Weather Service office in Gray this afternoon is still predicting snow, at times heavy, to start early Thursday morning, with accumulations from Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach north to Portland, Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Waldoboro, Camden, Rockland and Belfast of 6-10 inches of snow through Thursday evening. On Thursday, rain will mix with the snow along the coast, likely keeping snowfall totals on the lower side, but like so many nor'easters, what remains as snow won't be known until the storm has passed Friday.

The winter storm warning is in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday.

In central parts of the state, including as close to the Midcoast as Augusta, the National Weather Service is predicting 12-18 inches of snow Thursday into Thursday night.

Other weather forecasters are predicting higher amounts of snow for the coast, including in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties with the heaviest snowfall occurring near the Waterville/Augusta area.

A winter storm warning has also been issued for coastal waters from Stonington to Port Clyde.

The NWS marine forecast follows.

Wednesday: North winds 10 to 15 knots, seas around 2-feet.

Wednesday night: Northeast winds 10-20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots, becoming east at 25-35 knots with gusts up to 45 knots after midnight. Seas 2-4 feet, building to 4-7 feet after midnight. Rain or a chance of snow after midnight.

Thursday: East winds 35-45 knots with gusts up to 55 knots. Seas 10-15 feet, building to 13-18 feet in the afternoon. Rain with visibility 1-3 nautical miles.

Thursday night: Northeast winds 20-25 knots, becoming north 20 to 30 knots after midnight. Gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 10-15 feet, subsiding to 8-11 feet after midnight. Rain or snow in the evening, then snow showers likely after midnight. Visibility 1-3 nautical miles.

Friday: Northwest winds 20-30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 6-9 feet, subsiding to 4-7 feet in the afternoon. A chance of snow showers in the morning. Visibility 1-3 nautical miles.

Storm tides are to run between 11-1/2 and 12 feet in Portland Harbor. Large, building waves will cause splash-over and beach erosion near mid-morning high tide Thursday, which for Rockland and Belfast is at 10:06 a.m., and for Camden is at 10:04 a.m.

The seven-day Midcoast weather forecast follows.

Wednesday night: Snow likely, mainly after 4 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a temperature rising to around 29 F by 5 a.m. Blustery, with a northeast wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday: Snow before noon, then rain. High near 36 F. Windy, with a northeast wind 21 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Thursday night: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 2 a.m. Low around 25 F. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 32 F. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.Saturday A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26 F.

Saturday night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 17 F.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 26 F.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 9.Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 24 F.

Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13 F.

New Year's Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28 F.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14 F.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23 F.