What is an Alberta Clipper? More on the storm bringing snow to Maine

If you’ve been following the Total Weather forecast for Maine in the lead-up to a winter storm hitting Wednesday evening, you may have heard forecasters refer to the storm as the “Alberta Clipper.”

An Alberta Clipper is a fast-moving low-pressure system that typically moves southeast during the winter from the Canadian province of Alberta in southwestern Canada and through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region.

This low pressure area is usually accompanied by light snow, strong winds and colder temperatures. Another variation of the same system is called the Saskatchewan Screamer.

While the leading edge of the Alberta Clipper will first arrive in the mountains of Maine late Wednesday evening, conditions will begin to intensify around midnight.

Wet, heavy snow could fall at a rate of up to 1 inch per hour at times during the overnight hours inland, with rain falling in coastal communities.

But as temperatures drop early Thursday morning, snow will begin to fall closer to the coast.

Motorists should expect difficult travel conditions during the Thursday morning commute, according to Maine’s Total Weather, but the snow will taper off throughout the afternoon and evening.

The mountains and foothills are expected to receive 10 to 20 cm of snow from this storm, while inland areas will receive between 5 and 10 cm. In coastal communities there will be up to 5 cm of depth where the snow may mix with the rain.

The strong winds and colder temperatures associated with an Alberta Clipper will be felt following the storm.

Wind gusts of up to 35 mph are expected Friday, leading to wind chills in the teens during the afternoon. Conditions will continue to be icy on Saturday, with cooler temperatures below freezing in the mountains.

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