NWS issues rainstorm warning

The National Weather Service is warning residents of interior and Down East coastal Maine to clear their roofs of snow prior to an expected rainstorm Friday. The Caribou office of the NWS released the warning Wednesday.

The added weight to roofs from existing snow, coupled with rain and ice, could cause roofs to weaken or water to back up inside, according to the Weather Service.

The storm is expected to sweep across Maine during the day Friday into the night.

Across northern Maine the precipitation is expected to begin as snow and then change to a mixture of sleet and freezing rain.

Interior and coastal sections of Down East Maine are expected to see a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain, eventually changing to all rain.

Road conditions throughout the state are expected to be slippery. Unnecessary travel Friday should be avoided.