National Weather Service Issues Blizzard Warning For Bangor And Downeast [INFO]

Here is the latest from the National Weather Service on the Blizzard that is expected to hit the Bangor and Downeast areas throughout the day on Sunday:

CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-INTERIOR HANCOCK-
CENTRAL WASHINGTON-COASTAL HANCOCK-COASTAL WASHINGTON-
SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LINCOLN...HOWLAND...SPRINGFIELD...
BANGOR...BREWER...ORONO...OLD TOWN...AMHERST...AURORA...DEDHAM...
EASTBROOK...GREAT POND...ORLAND...DEBLOIS...GRAND LAKE STREAM...
MEDDYBEMPS...PEMBROKE...PERRY...PRINCETON...ELLSWORTH...
BAR HARBOR...BLUE HILL...EASTPORT...MACHIAS...CHERRYFIELD...
DOVER-FOXCROFT...MILO...GUILFORD...DANFORTH...VANCEBORO...
TOPSFIELD
456 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST MONDAY...

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 26 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY EVENING. 
THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...VERY HIGH. HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL MAKE
  TRAVEL EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND COULD MAKE SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE.
  HIGH WINDS MAY CAUSE SOME POWER OUTAGES. WIND CHILLS APPROACHING
  -20F WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROST BITE.

* WINDS...NORTH 30 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...ZERO TO 5 ABOVE TONIGHT. 10 TO 15 ABOVE AWAY FROM THE COAST
 AND AROUND 20 NEAR THE COAST ON SUNDAY.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MOST OF DAY ON SUNDAY. 
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

The National Weather Service has two radar sites in Maine, one in Gray and one in Caribou.  Keep an eye on the storm's track by monitoring this site.

Throughout the day Sunday:

• In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure that outside vents from your heating system are free and clear of blowing and drifting snow.
• Keep running generators outdoors and at least six feet away from windows and doors.
• Never touch downed power lines!  We have information about how you can report and monitor power outages.
• If there's blowing and drifting snow that is creating "whiteouts" in your area, then stay off the roads!  Leave the roadways to the emergency and snow clearing professionals in your area until the roadways become safe again.
• Check on the elderly!  Especially if they're living alone.  Clear a path to their door and make sure that they are warm and have food!
• While shoveling snow, protect your heart by shoveling at a safe pace.  Use a smaller shovel so that the portions are small. Shovel often so that you're not shoveling deep snow.  Take breaks and monitor how your body is reacting to the hard work that it is doing.  Keep a cell phone in your coat to call for help.