A rare, late-April nor’easter that brought between 2 and 3 inches of rain to central Maine — and put most of the area under a flood watch — was a welcome development for many, considering the unseasonably hot and dry conditions of the previous weeks.
“Normally, April is the month of showers, but this year it was the month of dust,” said Paul Cates, 86, owner of Cates Family Glads in Vassalboro. “We are very, very, very grateful for the moisture.”
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Cates said he and his family plant more than 100,000 gladiola bulbs every year in early April, but a notable lack of rain this season had kept planting on hold.
“It wouldn’t have made any sense to plant gladiolas into dry ground,” he said.
Eric Schwibs, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said Monday’s storm should add balance to an otherwise dry month in Maine.
“On average, we were running close to two inches below normal (in April), so this storm will put us back on track,” Schwibs said. “We’re going to put some water in the rivers and the lakes, which we need because we didn’t have a lot of snow this winter.”
In Belgrade, at least one area had too much water. Castle Island Road was closed because of flooding and will need substantial repairs by the Department of Transportation, according to Town Manager Gregory Gill. There was no indication when the road would reopen.
“It’s washing out pretty badly,” Gill said Monday afternoon.
About 60 feet of road was washed out and the length of the road between Route 27 and West Road was closed. Officials didn’t know Monday how long the section, which is a thoroughfare for drivers traveling between Route 27 and areas west, would be closed. Until it’s accessible, drivers will have to take Route 135, a few miles south, or get on West Road where it meets Route 27 in Belgrade Lakes, a couple miles north.
Dams and roads elsewhere in Belgrade are fine, Gill said.
Arthur Churchill with the Kennebec County Emergency Management Agency said the region could experience minor flooding in streams and poor-drainage areas, but the Kennebec River should stay within its banks.
Churchill said the river is expected to crest at 10.7 feet on Wednesday, which is below flood stage of 12 feet. By midday Monday, the river height measured 4 feet.
“We have a lot of room to go,” he said.
The deluge gave Maine Forest Rangers a much-needed break, said Lt. Jeffrey Currier. Maine has seen more than 300 wildfires this season, about triple the amount at this time last year.
Currier said the wet weather has given the rangers an opportunity to get caught up on fire investigations and other duties.
“The rain has definitely taken its toll on the fire danger for a wee bit,” Currier said.
But he cautioned that the fire season is far from over. A few days of dry weather and high winds could bring the danger back, he said.
Trace amounts of snow fell Monday morning in Carrabassett Valley, said Ethan Austin, communications manager at Sugarloaf ski area. The precipitation then changed to freezing rain and then rain by the afternoon.
Austin said the resort closed its winter season on April 16, a few weeks earlier than average. A dry December and a record-breaking heat wave in March created challenges for the season.
“In terms of conditions, it was somewhat disappointing; but, overall it wasn’t that bad of a season,” he said.
Elsewhere in the Northeast, the nor’easter packed more of a wallop, leaving tens of thousands of people without power, according to The Associated Press.
The earliest hits were on higher ground, where snow-laden tree limbs pulled down power lines and commuters navigated slushy roads to work and school. Up to a foot of snow or more was forecast for higher elevations.
Utilities reported about 50,000 customers without power in Pennsylvania and central and western New York.
In Maine, more than 1,000 customers in 13 southern and coastal towns were without power by midday Monday, according to Central Maine Power.
Rain in the Buffalo, N.Y., area changed over to snow about 9 a.m. Monday with 5-9 inches expected through 7 a.m. Tuesday. Up to 16 inches are possible in higher elevations south of the city. Up to 12 inches of snow was expected in the higher elevations of central and western Pennsylvania. In northeastern Ohio, 3-7 inches of snow was forecast.
Cates said the rain in central Maine improved his outlook on the planting season, and the view outside his window.
“It’s already so much greener than it was just a few days ago,” he said. “It’s really a pleasure.”
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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