Already an early U.S. winter? A foot of snow in Maine, record unprecedented early-season snow in South Carolina

Up to a foot of snow has fallen in Maine from a storm system that earlier brought an unprecedented early-season snow to parts of South Carolina on the first day of November.

Bangor, Maine, reported 12 inches of snow as of 2:50 p.m. EST Sunday. Scroll down for more on the snow forecast for New England.

Snow was observed Saturday as far south and east as Charleston, South Carolina, the earliest flakes on record in the city. This occurred less than three days after a string of four straight days in the mid-upper 80s. Places like Folly Beach and downtown Charleston picked up a trace of snowfall.

Even more stunning were the snowfall amounts in the South Carolina Midlands. Up to 4.5 inches of snow fell in Red Bank, just west of Columbia. Red Bank is only about 350 feet above sea level.

A couple of inches of snow coated grassy areas and some roads near Greenville and Pelion, South Carolina. Power lines were downed in Greenville, Greenwood, and Lexington Counties due to the combination of strong winds and wet snow accumulations.

Even more stunning were the snowfall amounts in the South Carolina Midlands. Up to 4.5 inches of snow fell in Red Bank, just west of Columbia. Red Bank is only about 350 feet above sea level.

A couple of inches of snow coated grassy areas and some roads near Greenville and Pelion, South Carolina. Power lines were downed in Greenville, Greenwood, and Lexington Counties due to the combination of strong winds and wet snow accumulations.

Farther northwest in the southern Appalachian Mountains, up to six inches of snow fell around Asheville, North Carolina while 2.5 inches were measured in Boone, North Carolina. Seven inches fell near Marshall, North Carolina (elevation 2280 feet). Up to 3 inches blanketed Bluefield, West Virginia.

Mt. LeConte, Tennessee (elevation 6400 feet) measured 22 inches of snow, with waist-deep drifts. Numerous roads were shut down in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including U.S. 441. Trees were "cracking and popping" due to the weight of almost 13 inches of snow near Hartford, Tennessee (elevation 3400 feet).

Up to 2 inches of snow were observed on Burnt Mountain northwest of Dawsonville, Georgia, and flurries fell in parts of the Atlanta metro area.

Midwest Sees Snow, High Waves

Heavy snow fell in parts of the Upper Midwest late Thursday into Friday. Ten inches of snow fell in Presque Isle, Wisconsin and near Three Lakes, Michigan. Wind gusts up to 69 mph were clocked in Gary, Indiana Friday, and Chicago saw its first measurable Halloween snow on record early Friday, though only one-tenth of an inch piled up at O'Hare International Airport.

Waves on southern Lower Michigan and southern Lake Huron reached heights similar to those measured during Superstorm Sandy.

Records Re-Written: Snow Shatters Southern Records

In most locations, this was not the earliest measurable (at least 0.1 inches) snow on record. Except for the Palmetto State, that is.

Prior to this weekend, the previous earliest measurable snow on record in Greenville, South Carolina was on Nov. 11, 1987 and 1968. This event shattered the previous earliest trace of snow in South Carolina's capital city of Columbia, set over a hundred years ago (Nov. 9, 1913).

According to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, this would be the earliest measurable snow on record in Blairsville, Georgia, if accumulations occured there. In both Cleveland and Helen, Georgia, the standing record for earliest measurable snow was on Nov. 12, 1968. Official data from co-operative observers have not yet been released, but up to half an inch of snow was reported in the Blairsville area.

In Boone, North Carolina (elevation about 3,300 feet), the average first measurable snow falls around the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 26). In Asheville, North Carolina (elevation about 2,100 feet), that average first measurable date is Christmas Day. The record earliest measurable snow in Asheville, however, was Oct. 1, 1952.

New England Snow Continues

Winter storm warnings, watches and winter weather advisories continue for northern New England as the season's first snow targets them Sunday.

Snow, heavy, in parts of northern New England, accompanied by strong winds, will taper off late Sunday night. Some wet snow may also fall in parts of southern New England, primarily in eastern Massachusetts. The wind will be very strong as well. As of Sunday morning, there have already been several reports of 40+mph wind gusts and reports of trees/powerlines down in eastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island.

In northern Maine, interestingly, this first measurable snow would be just a tad late. Caribou sees its first measurable snow by Oct. 23, in an average season.

Heavy snow and high winds continue Monday in parts of Atlantic Canada, from New Brunswick to Labrador.

Snowfall Accumulation Forecast

At right is our latest 48-hour snowfall forecast. Additional accumulations will mainly be limited to Maine, where totals will exceed 12 inches in a few spots.

Even without any snow, it will be chilly and raw, with highs in much of the Great Lakes and Northeast holding in the 40s, or even 30s in some spots.