GRAY, MAINE - Coastal Flooding is expected tonight into early tomorrow in southern Maine and New Hampshire. Forecasters have posted a coastal flood warning for the area 11 tonight until 3 a.m. Tuesday.
National Weather Service Hydrologist Tom Hawley, in Gray, says a strong southeasterly wind, combined with some of the highest tides of the year, will result in flooding at high tide, especially early tomorrow morning, with minor to moderate beach erosion.
"So you'll probably see some sand being removed from the beach, do to the higher than normal tide and winds and the waves battering the beach," Hawley says.
For points farther east, a coastal flood advisory has been called. Hawley says heavy rain will likely cause minor flooding of rivers and streams. He says rain is expected to total 1 to 3 inches, with the heaviest totals in Augusta and Auburn and points south.
Hawley says, fortunately, it appears the heaviest rain will fall away from areas that still have a lot of snow, which should reduce the likelihood of more serious flooding.
Meanwhile, forecasters continue to monitor rivers in northern Maine for possible ice jam flooding, but Hawley says it looks like jams on the Aroostook and St. John Rivers have both washed out. He says, while those rivers are currently below flood stage, that may change with the additional rain coming in tonight.
