Less than a week after a nor’easter brought blizzard conditions and more than a foot of snow, another midwinter storm pounded with nearly the same amount of powder and messy travel conditions.
The National Weather Service in Gray predicted that snow and mixed precipitation would end late in the afternoon Friday, with snowfall expected at a rate of one-half inch per hour through noon until gradually decreasing throughout the evening.
Altogether, the weather service estimated that 4-6 inches of snow was expected from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in Augusta, with a similar range for surrounding communities. Combined with snow that began falling Thursday night after changing over from a day of rain, totals for the central Maine region were estimated at 8-12 inches and as much as 16 inches in some areas.
The storm prompted school districts across the region on Thursday to cancel Friday classes or more to remote learning, while many businesses and state office closed for the day.
While the snow in central Maine initially fell as wet, heavy flakes Thursday night while temperatures remained barely above freezing, the snow changed over to lighter powder by Friday as temperatures plummeted into the teens.
Power outages did not appear to be widespread. Central Maine Power reported 776 total outages as of 11:09 a.m., with just 33 of those in Kennebec County. By 3 p.m., the total number of outages was down to 78.
As the storm picked up in intensity Friday morning, Maine State Police warned they were responding to “one crash after another” on the Maine Turnpike and that people were driving too fast for the deteriorating road conditions, according to Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Fortunately, Moss said no injuries were reported.
Augusta, on the other hand, saw minimal accidents. Police Sgt. Eric Lloyd said at 11:30 a.m. that there have only been two crashes throughout the entire storm. About a half-dozen vehicles were reported as disabled or off the road since 7 p.m. Thursday.
“Normally I’d expect to see a lot more than that,” he said. “If you were to tell me that we were looking at less than a handful of motor vehicle crashes, I would’ve said, ‘no way.'”
He said the decision late Thursday to shut down the school and state offices in Augusta may have contributed to the lower number of crashes.
“That immediately impacts the amount of commuters you have coming to Augusta,” he said.
The city of Augusta also issued a citywide winter parking ban from Friday morning until Saturday at 7 a.m. The ban, according to a release sent by Deputy Chief Kevin Lully, states that any vehicles parked on any city street will be towed at the owner’s expense, and that winter parking permits do not exempt motorists from the ban.
“If you have to drive, slow and steady wins the race,” said Lloyd.
In Waterville, Sgt. Jennifer Weaver said there have been minimal crashes. She noted there is a standing parking ban in effect from midnight to 6 a.m.
Officer Frank Pellerin of the Pittsfield Police Department said they have had no crashes, but the roads across the Somerset County town were “pretty bad.”
Pittsfield has an ordinance stating from November to March between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., cars cannot be street parked in the built-up section of town.
“Town crews are doing a great job keeping roads clear the best they can,” said Pellerin. “When people know it’s snowing, drive safely and stay home if you can.” He advised that if people are on the roads, to try to stay out of the way of plow trucks.
Morning Sentinel reporter Haley Hersey contributed reporting.
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