Mainers use caution, reduce storm’s impact

CARIBOU – In towns throughout Aroostook County, there was a noticeable absence of cars on the road and people frequenting stores and restaurants on Monday, as the region endured the last wrath of Sunday’s storm.

A blowing-snow advisory was in effect for much of the state until 10 p.m. Monday, with northwest winds expected to continue to bluster at 15 to 25 mph throughout the day. Gusts of up to 40 mph were expected in the early evening.

Police said motorists who stayed off the roads helped cut down on the number of accidents and cars off the road, and schools and civic organizations that canceled or postponed activities also helped keep people at home.

No major accidents were reported in The County.

The most significant snowfall – 17.2 inches – was reported in Caribou, according to estimates from the National Weather Service office in Caribou.

Fort Kent reported 14.5 inches, while Houlton saw snow change to sleet during the storm, which kept snowfall amounts at about 6 inches.

The Penobscot County town of Mount Chase received the most snow in that area, with 11.3 inches reported. Patten had received 9.2 inches by late Monday afternoon, while 4 inches had fallen in Bangor, according to the National Weather Service.

Many schools, colleges, government offices and courthouses in Aroostook County were closed, and scores of municipal meetings, civic and athletic events were postponed statewide.

Leeann Allegretto, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Caribou, said Monday afternoon that since October, Caribou has received 60.1 inches of snow, 43.3 inches of which has fallen in the last 17 days.

“When you think about it, that is really amazing,” she said. “Last season, we did not have our first significant snowfall until January or February, so things are really different this season.”

So far, the snowfall totals have not broken any existing records.

Allegretto said forecasters were fielding reports of wind gusts of 52 mph in Frenchville and gusts of more than 40 mph in other parts of The County.

Despite the wind, Virginia Joles, spokeswoman for Maine Public Service Co. in Presque Isle, said no major power outages were reported in The County.

About 4,000 Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. customers were without power at the peak of the weekend storm Sunday, with Hancock County hit hardest.

“I don’t have the exact number in front of me, but I would say most were in Hancock County,” Bangor Hydro spokeswoman Susan Faloon said Monday afternoon.

So far this year, the coastal county has had more weather-related outages than any other Maine county.

“Generally, the weather tends to be more severe in that area, but also, homes are isolated, which makes it harder for crews to reach everyone quickly,” Faloon said.

By late Monday afternoon, only about 100 homes remained without power, she said.

While a number of cars slid off the roads in Hancock County, no significant accidents were reported.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain forced air travel delays and caused skidding accidents elsewhere in the state Sunday. Early Monday evening, Maine Turnpike authorities were warning of major delays because of a collision on the turnpike’s southbound lanes between Exits 52 and 53 near Falmouth.

Cold weather was expected to remain through the workweek, with light snow likely Wednesday, according to Allegretto.

Staff and wire writers contributed to this report.