“There has been quite a bit of buzz about this storm for most of this week,” said the meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Gray, in their synopsis of what is to come. They are not mincing words when they describe the approaching storm as “major” and “brutal.”

With expectations of a barometer drop, strong winds, frigid thermometer readings, at least a foot of snow at the coast, the conditions through Saturday and Saturday night are to be harsh.

“This will cause plenty of blowing and drifting of the snow along with visibilities possibly approaching zero at times, especially closer to the coast,” according to the NWS Friday, Jan. 28 forecast discussion.

Coastal erosion and splash-over will also be possible on Saturday into Sunday morning. Cold temperatures are then expected on Sunday through early next week before warmer air arrives by midweek.

This Afternoon
Isolated snow showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight
A 20 percent chance of snow after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -5. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday
Snow, mainly after 9am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 17. Wind chill values as low as -8. Windy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Saturday Night
Snow, mainly before 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 3am. Low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -10. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday
Areas of blowing snow before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. Blustery, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 7.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 26.