Rain and snow exit tonight; cooler with a few spotty showers Monday

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Good evening and Happy Sunday everyone. Skies remain cloudy with rain and snow falling across the state. Snow impacts remain to the north and west of the interstate, while rain and even a few thunderstorms continue along the interstate and to the southeast. Temps vary from the low 30s to the mid 40s with NW winds between 5-15 mph and reduced visibility for much of the state.

Snow will continue across areas to the northwest of the interstate this evening, before crossing the interstate and reaching Interior Midcoast communities, the Bangor region, and Interior Downeast Maine by 7-8pm. Snow showers will be short lived to the southeast of the interstate. Precipitation will taper off across Western Maine shortly after sunset, before exiting the entire state around midnight tonight.

Total snowfall totals will vary under 2 inches across Western, Northern, and Interior Downeast locations. However, a few pockets of 2-4 inches are likely, mostly in higher elevations across the mountains. Rainfall totals will accumulate around a half inch to three quarters of an inch when all is said and done.

The precipitation due to this major cold front will be out of Maine by midnight tonight, with cloudy conditions giving way to mostly clear skies by sunrise. Some patchy morning fog is possible, as well as a few scattered snow showers in the Western Mountains. Lows will dip back below freezing across much of the state, from the low 20s to mid 30s tonight, so cover up any plants or flowers outside. NW gusts will reach 20-30 mph. A Small Craft Advisory is expected offshore.

Skies will be partly to mostly sunny across the interstate and coast on Monday morning. However, by the late morning to midday hours, clouds will build with a few scattered rain and snow showers in spots. Conditions will be on the cloudier side in the afternoon before clearing up around sunset into the start of Monday night. Highs will be chilly on Monday, from the low 30s to upper 40s. WNW gusts will be a bit breezy, reaching 20-25 mph, which will add to the wind chill factor.

High pressure will build on Monday night, remaining overhead on Tuesday. Skies will be sunny in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon as a few clouds develop. Highs will remain cool, in the 40s across the board with North to SW gusts only reaching 15 mph.

A weaker low-pressure system is looking likely to bring showers across Maine sometime between Wednesday and Thursday. There is growing certainty that impacts will fall on Thursday, but the GFS model still has some impacts on Wednesday. We will continue to monitor this system and potential impacts. All it looks to provide as of now are cloudier skies and rain showers, with some snow shower chances farther to the North during the mornings.

By Friday and Saturday, conditions are trending on the drier side with some sunshine and average temperatures returning to the forecast.

MONDAY: Highs from low 30s to upper 40s. Partly to mostly sunny early. Developing clouds with scattered rain/snow showers by midday. WNW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

TUESDAY: Highs throughout the 40s. Sunnier AM. Partly to mostly sunny PM. North to SW gusts reach 15 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Highs from low 40s to low 50s. Cloudier skies with a few rain showers possible. AM snow showers possible North. SSE to SSW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

THURSDAY: Highs from mid 40s to upper 50s. Cloudier skies with rain showers. Some AM snow showers possible North. NW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

FRIDAY: Highs from upper 40s to mid 50s. Partly to mostly cloudy. NNW gusts reach 20 mph.

SATURDAY: Highs from upper 40s to upper 50s. Partly cloudy AM. Cloudier PM with slim shower chances. North gusts reach 15-20 mph.