First major snowstorm of season bears down on area

A storm system tracking from the southwest will meet up with another system from the west on Saturday. (NOAA image)

The season’s first serious snowfall is expected to hit here on Saturday afternoon, with enough cold and snow to put on the longjohns and break out the snow shovels and blowers.

Biting cold today will be followed by a plowable winter storm beginning Saturday night and into Sunday, according to a Winter Storm Watch issued by the National Weather Service in Gray early today.

Most predictions called for between 6 to 14 inches. The heaviest snowfall in the area will occur Sunday morning.

Temperatures today will have a hard time climbing into the mid-20 with wind chills making it feel much colder.

Tonight’s temperatures will fall to below zero, but begin to moderate somewhat on Saturday night as the snowstorm begins to move in, according to reports from Accuweater.com.

After the snow winds down on Sunday, temperatures will plunge back to near zero, with a high on Monday only around 16 and a low of -12.