GRAY — The National Weather Service forecast remains unchanged from 3 p.m. today, with a blizzard warning in effect until 4 p.m. Saturday, and a coastal flood warning in effect until 2 p.m. Saturday.

Due to the storm, the U.S. Postal Service has cancelled mail delivery for Saturday and post offices will be closed until Monday. Mail delivery will resume Monday.

Tom Rizzo, northern New England USPS's spokesperson, said late Saturday night that while post offices are closed and mail delivery is suspended, the mail processing plant in eastern Maine will be open and operational during the weekend.

Heavy snow, with significant blowing and drifting, and damaging winds are possible late tonight into Saturday morning, according to the NWS. Snow accumulations of more than 2 feet are possible.

The worst conditions are expected after midnight tonight through Saturday morning, causing snow covered roads and low visibility, and blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout conditions are likely at times.

Northeasterly winds are forecast at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. Temperatures will be 10 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

The winds may cause power outages overnight.

Significant coastal flooding is possible at high tide Saturday morning – around 10 a.m. Residents in areas typically prone to significant coastal flooding are urged to take action and to consider that blizzard conditions will be occurring as the tide rises to its highest levels early Saturday morning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement Friday night, reminding people to use caution during storms:

- Do not heat your home with a gas oven -- the fumes can kill.

- Do not grill inside your home – the fumes can kill.

- Keep generators outside at least 25 feet from doors, windows and vents.

- Drink clean, safe water and eat safe, uncontaminated food.

- Never touch a downed power line or anything touching one.

- Seek help you having trouble coping.

Central Maine Power late Friday afternoon reported few problems from the day's dry snow and light winds. CMP has extra staff on duty overnight and said it will have storm-response personnel at all field locations before daybreak Saturday, when high winds are expected to sweep across the state.

"We don't expect the wind or snow to cause too many problems through this evening, although we have increased our staffing for the commuting hours and the overnight," said John Carroll, spokesman for CMP. "Our storm response team has pre-positioned crews and materials, and all our employees have been put on notice to expect a more challenging day tomorrow. We expect wind gusts in the fifties and heavy snow to move in by early tomorrow morning, so all of our crews are scheduled to report to field offices by 5 a.m."

In a press release, CMP officials said the utility company has lined up 68 additional line crews from Maine and Canada, plus 130 tree crews to add to the company's regular contingent of 90 line crews and support personnel.

If outages occur, CMP urges customers to call its toll-free outage hotline at 1-800-696-1000.

Also Friday, Gov. Paul LePage issued a limited state of emergency that waives federal rules, extends the hours of utility workers and allows crews from Canada to assist with repairs.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.