Blizzard hits Maine, 20″ plus in north

CARIBOU – More than a foot of snow fell Sunday across northern Maine, and winds of 30-40 mph created whiteout conditions.

“It’s a true blizzard out there,” said Ken Wallingford of the National Weather Service office in Caribou.

Wallingford said 15 to 20 inches of snow fell across portions of Aroostook County, making some roads impassible. He said accumulations from the storm could reach 2 feet or more before the snow ends today.

Elsewhere around the state, a sloppy mix of snow, rain and freezing rain left thousands of electric power customers without service and sent numerous cars careening off highways.

After temperatures locked the state in a deep freeze for most of January, Mainers got a short respite before precipitation moved into the state Saturday. By Sunday, roads were covered with slippery slush and snow covered the ground with varying accumulations.

In Shapleigh in southern Maine, 11 inches had fallen by noon, while observers in the midcoast region reported mostly rain or freezing rain.

Accumulations were expected to range from less than 6 inches along the coast to as much as 8 inches farther inland and 10 or more inches in the mountains.

State police from Bangor to Gray reported numerous accidents involving vehicles that had skidded off the slippery roads and rolled over. Two tour buses were reported to have slid off state Route 27 in Oxford County, but no injuries resulted from those accidents, WCSH-TV said.

Plows and sanding trucks were out in force, but had trouble keeping the quickly accumulating slush off the roads.

The speed limit along the turnpike was dropped in the slushy conditions, and motorists were urged to stay home if possible. Many Mainers were apparently getting the message, as scores of events across the state were postponed or canceled.

Among the cancellations was Gov. John Baldacci’s Blaine House reception for female student-athletes from Maine high schools. Representatives of the University of Maine women’s athletic programs were to attend the Augusta event.

As many as 5,000 Central Maine Power customers were without service Sunday afternoon because of the heavy loads of fresh snow and ice that snapped power lines.

Most of those affected were in an area from Sanford to Auburn, and also in the Bethel, Old Orchard Beach and Falmouth areas.

No relief from the wintry weather was expected before midweek at the soonest.

The weather service said another round of mixed precipitation would develop tonight and last through Tuesday.