Maine Forecast: Thundersnow

AUGUSTA, ME — Maine's first nor'easter of the winter will bring 6-10 inches of snow and possibly light up the night skies Thursday, according to latest forecasts. A winter storm warning is in effect for Augusta Thursday at 1 p.m. through Friday at 8 a.m. The snow will be heaviest Thursday night, NWS said.

The storm may include thundersnow, according to NWS.

Thundersnow is a rare phenomenon that produces shallow lightning close to the ground.

Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore and his crew captured thundersnow in Plymouth, Massachusetts last year:

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly earlier this year captured a thundersnow event from the International Space Station:

This is the winter storm warning for Augusta Thursday and Friday:

• A WINTER STORM WARNING...REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THURSDAY TO 8 AM EST FRIDAY.
• ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 10 INCHES.
• TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN TO FALL BETWEEN LATE MORNING AND MID AFTERNOON THURSDAY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES THURSDAY NIGHT. AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THE PRECIPITATION WILL END FROM SOUTH TO NORTH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
• IMPACTS...HEAVY SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT AT BEST LATE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION THE SNOW HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE HEAVY AND WET... ESPECIALLY IF RAIN FALLS INTO IT AND ADDS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT ON BRANCHES AND POWER LINES. THEREFORE POWER OUTAGES ARE A POSSIBILITY... ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS.
• WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
• TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 20S.
• VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

Augusta hourly weather forecast

Photo: Bruce Guenter via Flickr