Southern Maine is bracing for another weekend of significant snowfall, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing warnings and advisories for multiple counties. The approaching weather system, driven by two low-pressure areas, is expected to bring “plowable snow” across the region beginning Friday evening.
Meteorologist Justin Arnott, from the NWS Gray office, explained that one low-pressure system is currently over the Great Lakes and another is developing south of New England. “Between those two systems, there’s going to be a band that comes through and brings us some more plowable snow across the region,” Arnott said, according to a statement released by the NWS Gray office on February 19, 2026.
The highest snowfall totals are anticipated in southern Oxford County, northwestern York County, and western Cumberland County, where 6 to 8 inches are forecast between Friday night and Saturday. A winter storm warning has been issued for these areas, extending into central New Hampshire. Eastern York County, most of Cumberland County, central Oxford County, and all of Androscoggin County are projected to receive 4 to 6 inches. A winter weather advisory is in effect for Kennebec, Waldo, southern Franklin, and northern Oxford counties, with expected accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
Further north and east, snowfall totals are expected to diminish. Somerset and northern Franklin counties may notice around an inch, while the northern half of the state could receive less than an inch, if any snow falls. The NWS forecasts the snow will begin falling in Portland around 6 p.m. Friday, with timing varying slightly across the region.
The NWS Gray office warned of deteriorating driving conditions Friday afternoon and evening, particularly across southern New Hampshire and York County. The heaviest snowfall is expected late Friday night, with accumulation rates potentially exceeding 1 inch per hour. But, forecasters anticipate travel conditions will improve by late morning and throughout Saturday.
Arnott also indicated that another weather system is being monitored for Sunday night into Monday. While currently appearing less potent than the Friday-Saturday storm, he cautioned that it could still bring some snow to the state. “Right now, the greatest chances are for that storm to stay far enough out to sea for us not to see a significant impact, with a little bit of light snow,” Arnott said Thursday. He urged residents to continue monitoring the forecast as the weekend progresses.
Justin Arnott serves as the Science and Operations Officer at the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, and previously presented to students at Marshwood High School on the use of statistics in weather forecasting. He also conducts training for other meteorologists at the Gray office.
