Augusta, Maine, Prepares For Potential Impact From Rain & Wind Storm

It looks like the snow that we got Monday night into Tuesday morning was just a taste of the weather that we are going to be getting this week.

If you have been paying attention to local media, you know that we are going to have several days of weather.

It is supposed to start Tuesday night as freezing rain that may lead to some icing.  As the temperatures warm up on Wednesday (we're looking at a high of around 57 degrees) the precipitation will switch over to rain.  That rain will continue through Wednesday night, but the temperatures will remain warm so there is little chance that we'll be dealing with icing.

One of the biggest concerns is potentially high winds.  Some places could see gusts in excess of 55 MPH!

After hearing about the weather event (are we ready to call it a storm, yet?), some people have been 'triggered' because of how similar it sounds to the December 2023 Grinch Storm.

While we all hope that this weather event is nowhere near as bad as the Grinch Storm, some municipalities are already taking precautions.

Flooding Concerns in Augusta, Maine

Earlier today, the City of Augusta sent an alert to subscribers on the city's alert system that explained there would be a parking ban on the north end of Front Street due to potential flooding concerns.

If you are familiar with downtown Augusta you know that Front Street, the street closest to the Kennebec River, frequently floods during storms.

The message explained that people needed to move their vehicles from that area by midnight on Monday.  Any vehicles left in that area after midnight may have their vehicle towed.

The message goes on to say:

While we do not anticipate immediate impacts, current forecasts predict significant rainfall overnight and throughout Wednesday, with wind speeds ranging from 20 to 25 mph and temperatures in the 50s. The combination of warmer temperatures, rainfall, and snowmelt may cause rising river levels later this week.

The message also explained that the authorities are keeping an eye on potential flooding and are preparing for potential downed trees and power outages.

Hopefully, this storm will be nowhere near as bad as the December 2023 storm was, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Get tips on how to be prepared for a winter storm at the Ready.gov website