Despite ominous forecasts of a nasty spring nor’easter promising heavy, wet snow and power outages, organizers of events planned for viewing the total solar eclipse on Monday are not deterred.

“Mainers are a hearty stock. I don’t think it’s going to bother too much,” said Ivy Burns, youth and teen librarian at Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth, who is helping to organize a viewing party at Yarmouth High School.

Mainers and out-of-state visitors are hoping to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse expected on Monday, but bad weather for the latter part of this week might put a crimp on travel plans.

Spectrum News Meteorologist Reid Lybarger said forecasters are expecting “a significant storm system” passing through Maine starting Wednesday night and throughout the day on Thursday.  

"Accumulating snowfall is likely across the entire state, with the highest totals up to 1 to 2 feet across southern and interior Maine,” he said. “Northern Maine will see a few inches of snowfall from this system, especially in the mountains, but totals will remain closer to 4 to 6 inches near the Canadian border through the end of this week.” 

The National Weather Service is also predicting wind gusts up to 40 mph or higher near the coast, which may cause widespread power outages.

In Houlton, one of the communities that is described as an ideal spot to view the eclipse, the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce is still looking forward to a good turnout for a local festival organized for eclipse viewers on Monday.

Jane Torres, the chamber’s executive director, said springtime is mud season regardless of the weather, so she doubts a little snow will put a damper on attendance or spirits.  

“It’s nothing new to us,” she said. “We put on our boots and go on our way.”

Torres said the chamber has been planning for Monday’s eclipse for the past two and a half years. Already, she said, organizers made sure, for example, not to allow parking in fields due to soft ground. 

“We realized that it was going to be mud season, and we’ve planned accordingly,” she said.

The hard surfaces where people will be allowed to park should be clear of snow by Monday, she said. 

Lybarger said by Monday, conditions will have improved for eclipse viewing, with high pressure and relatively sunny weather on tap. Torres said in the end, that’s all that matters.

“We are just thrilled that it’s going to be a really nice day on Monday,” she said.

In Yarmouth, Burns acknowledged that the bad weather may discourage long-distance traveling, but locally she expects plenty of people to turn up, especially with good weather expected.

“There’s actually some very promising forecasts in this area,” she said.