An Arctic cold front crossed the region during the early morning hours of the 3rd. Temperatures rapidly fell through the 3rd in the wake of the front. A tight pressure gradient between Arctic high pressure and low pressure intensifying across the Gulf of Saint Lawrence supported increasing winds. Dangerous wind chills developed with the falling temperatures and increasing winds. The strongest winds and lowest wind chills occurred through the night of the 3rd into the morning of the 4th. During this time winds were sustained at 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 to 60 mph. Wind chills across northern areas generally ranged from 50 to 60 below zero. Wind chills across Downeast areas generally ranged from 40 to 50 below zero. These represented the coldest wind chill values in over 30 years for some areas. High temperatures remained below zero across northern areas during the 4th...with around zero to the single digits above zero Downeast.  Winds gradually diminished through the afternoon of the 4th. The extreme cold led to tree damage Downeast due to ice formation and expansion within the trees. Several reports of ice quakes were also received due to freezing of ground moisture.
The strong winds also caused extensive blowing and drifting snow across open agricultural areas of northern Maine. Whiteouts occurred at times along with near ground blizzard conditions.

Winter Weather in NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph...with gusts of 50 to 60 mph...produced extensive blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout and near ground blizzard conditions occurred at times leading to dangerous travel. The greatest impacts occurred along open agricultural areas.

Winter Weather in NORTHERN PENOBSCOT, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph...with gusts of 50 to 60 mph...produced extensive blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout and near ground blizzard conditions occurred at times leading to dangerous travel. The greatest impacts occurred along open agricultural areas.

Winter Weather in SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph...with gusts of 50 to 60 mph...produced extensive blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout and near ground blizzard conditions occurred at times leading to dangerous travel. The greatest impacts occurred along open agricultural areas.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 50 to 60 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 50 to 60 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN SOMERSET, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 50 to 60 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 50 to 60 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN PENOBSCOT, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 50 to 60 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CENTRAL PENOBSCOT, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in INTERIOR HANCOCK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CENTRAL WASHINGTON, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in COASTAL HANCOCK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in COASTAL WASHINGTON, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN WASHINGTON, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Mesonet

Minimum wind chill values ranged from 40 to 50 below zero.

Winter Weather in NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK, MAINE
From 03-FEB-23 01:00:00 to 04-FEB-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph...with gusts of 50 to 60 mph...produced extensive blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout and near ground blizzard conditions occurred at times leading to dangerous travel. The greatest impacts occurred along open agricultural areas.