The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for this evening and tonight, as an approaching gale from the southeast arrives along the coast of Maine. Residents are also cautioned to watch for coastal flooding.

The winds will be off the water, with the highest expected to blow this evening, with gusts up to 60 mph. There may be, NWS said, downed trees and power outages. Farther south and inland, wind gusts are anticipated to be between 40 and 50 mph.

Winds are to diminish around midnight as a cold front pushes in from the west.

The warning areas are coastal Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties, and is in effect until 2 a.m., Friday, April 8.

The wind will be accompanied by some coastal flooding near the time of high tide, which will be close to midnight in the Rockland region. The tides will already be astronomically high, and forecasters say to anticipate a .5 to 1.5 storm surge on top of the tide.

They are targeting vulnerable areas as Snow Marine Park in Rockland, Route 1 at Lincolnville Beach, and Bath, near the Kennebec River, as well as Commercial Street in Portland and behind the dunes in Saco.

The forecast, as of 4:30 p.m.