A winter storm could bring heavy snow totalling 5 to 10 inches to much of eastern and central Maine beginning Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.
A winter storm watch has been issued from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning for a wide stretch of the region, including the Bangor area, the Down East coast, and parts of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties.
Forecasters say the storm’s impact will depend on its track. A low-pressure system is expected to pass south of the Maine coast Tuesday through Tuesday night. If it stays farther offshore, snowfall totals will be lower; if it moves closer to the coast, totals could be higher — especially Down East, which has the greatest chance for widespread accumulation.
Travel could become difficult, especially the Tuesday night and Wednesday morning commutes.
In southern and western Maine, the National Weather Service office in Gray said Tuesday’s system could bring the first widespread snowfall of the season, though the storm track remains uncertain.
Once the system moves out on Wednesday, the rest of the week is expected to be cool and breezy, with lingering mountain snow showers.
