Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs What’s NewA National Weather Service (NWS) winter storm warning remains in place until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday for parts of south-eastern Maine, and the federal agency warns travel will be “extremely dangerous” with snow accumulations of “between 4 and 9 inches.”The warning covers the towns of Cherryfield, Machias, Eastport and Perry with particularly heavy snowfall expected “eastward to Passamaquoddy Bay.” NWS winter advisory notices, a lower level of warning, are in place for other parts of eastern Maine as well as areas in Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.Why It MattersThe NWS is warning against non-essential travel in the area of Maine covered by the warning, which it says “means severe winter weather conditions will make travel extremely dangerous.” They continue: “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”Anyone travelling outdoors is warned that “patchy blowing snow in open areas may reduce visibility at times.” NWS warnings and alerts are intended to inform the public about dangers they could face giving them time to plan accordingly, particularly in the context of millions of American’s travelling ahead of the Christmas holidays. What To KnowFor the impacted area of Coastal Washington County, Maine, the warning is in place until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, with wind gusts “as high as 35 mph [miles per hour]” expected.The NSA also urged those around Cherryfield, Machias, Eastport, and Perry to “plan on slippery road conditions” with reduced visibility.
A man breaks up ice and sleet on his driveway during a winter storm in Concord, New Hampshire on February 4, 2022. A winter storm warning is in force for part of Maine until 1…
A man breaks up ice and sleet on his driveway during a winter storm in Concord, New Hampshire on February 4, 2022. A winter storm warning is in force for part of Maine until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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A weaker NWS wintery advisory alert is also in place for Maine across Coastal Hancock, Northern Washington, Central Washington, and Interior Hancock counties until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. For these areas “periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties” with drivers urged to take extra care on the roads.In Montana a winter advisory alert is in place for Central and Southeast Phillips, Northern Phillips, and Valley Counties lasting between 2 a.m. and 11 a.m. MST on Sunday.This is projected to cause “difficult travel” with “slippery and icy road conditions.”Small patches covered by winter advisory alerts also cover the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, part of central New York state, north-eastern Ohio and a patch extending across Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.Winter advisory alerts had been introduced across nine states on Friday, with up to five inches of snow expected in some areas.Separately a freeze watch is in effect for parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia from late Saturday night through Sunday morning.What People Are SayingOn X Maine based meteorologist Jason Nappi said: “A significant winter storm strikes Nova Scotia Friday into early Saturday with several inches of snow. The storm will be close enough to Maine for a few inches to accumulate Down East and along the coastline. Then we see a cold snap.”On Saturday morning local network WABI-TV reported: “As of 7:17am: Snow showers continue in Eastern Maine this morning. Light scattered snow showers will linger into the afternoon. Some communities could see blowing snow. Most will see under an inch of snow for the rest of the day, with a few isolated areas over that total.”What Happens NextAccording to an AccuWeather forecast the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho could see settled snow on Christmas Day.Snow showers are also predicted along a stretch of the east coast from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south.
