BANGOR, Maine — As the first statewide winter storm brought snow and rain to Maine on Sunday, the National Weather Service in Gray issued a winter weather watch for another storm expected Tuesday.
That storm is expected to usher in subzero temperatures to northern Maine and an additional 6 to 9 inches of snow, meteorologist Rick Okulski said Sunday.
Snowfall of between 8 and 12 inches is expected in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, with less accumulation along the coast.
While lesser amounts of snow are expected Tuesday in southern and western Maine, at least 6 inches is predicted to fall throughout the state.
Despite that forecast, it has been the warmest December on record in Bangor and Caribou, the National Weather Service in Caribou said Sunday on its website.
The average temperature in Bangor, so far, was 36.3 degrees, which is 10.6 degrees above the 30-year average. The average temperature of 31 in Caribou is 11.6 degrees above average.
Even with Sunday’s storm and the cool-down predicted for Tuesday, it’s likely December 2015 will shatter temperature records, the weather service said.
The last December record was set in Bangor in 1953 with an average temperature of 32.3 degrees. In Caribou, it was more recent — 26.5 degrees in 2001.
Sunday’s storm brought snow to northern and western Maine, with rain soaking southern and coastal areas, according to the weather service offices in Gray and Caribou.
By 4:30 p.m., 9 inches of snow had been reported in Frenchville, 8 inches in the Fort Kent area, 7 inches in Greenville, Millinocket and Eustice, 6 inches in Jackman and 1½ inches in Bangor, according to the weather service.
Speeds limits on Interstate 95 north of Medway were lowered to 40 mph, and information provided on the Maine Department of Transportation’s 511 call-in system warned of snow on the highway. It also warned of possible icing in southern Maine as temperatures fell Sunday night.
The weather service also issued a gale warning and a small craft advisory until 10 p.m. Monday.