A snowstorm that marked the arrival of spring in Maine left thousands of customers without electricity Thursday.

The storm dumped more than a foot of thick, heavy snow in Down East regions, and lesser amounts across the rest of the state. The snow began tapering off by morning, and parts of the state expected more snow by evening.

At the peak, 25,245 Central Maine Power customers and 5,000 Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. customers were without electricity Thursday morning because the snow snapped tree limbs and knocked down power lines.

CMP winnowed down the number to about 15,000 by mid-afternoon, and Bangor Hydro had restored power to all but 300, officials said.

CMP had more than 80 crews on the job, mostly in the Brunswick region, which was hardest hit, said spokeswoman Gail Rice. A car accident that broke a utility pole in Harpswell accounted for 1,000 customers without power.

The heaviest snow accumulations were recorded Down East, where 15 inches of snow fell in Calais, 91/2 inches in Eastport and 7 inches in Cherryfield. Six or more inches fell in areas of Hancock County. Schools closed or delayed opening in many areas and few accidents were reported.

Elsewhere, Auburn received 9 inches, Bangor 8 inches, Augusta 61/2 inches, Cornish 8 inches, Portland 5.6 inches, and Houlton 5 inches.

Portland, which already recorded the warmest winter on record, was looking at the distinct possibility of a new record for lack of snow this season with only 24.9 inches of snow before the storm rolled through.

The snow meant that old record will stand. By storm’s end, Portland had 30.5 inches of snow for the season, which is still 34.4 inches below normal, said Tony Lacroix of the National Weather Service.