RUMFORD — Nemo proved no problem for Rumford Public Works crews who began removing about 10 inches from the downtown as the much-ballyhooed snowstorm was winding down Saturday.
But areas closer to the brunt of the storm, including Lewiston, Portland and Gorham, were walloped with more than 2 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Gray.
Gorham recorded nearly 3 feet, at 35.5 inches, while the Portland International Jetport had 31.9 inches and Lewiston had 25.5, according to a weather service bulletin.
According to an Associated Press story, meteorologist Mike Kistner said the jetport’s total as of 1:30 p.m. blew away the old storm record of 27.1 inches from 1979.
Frenchboro, 8 miles offshore, recorded the highest winds at 89 mph, according to a weather service bulletin.
At 2 a.m. Saturday, Matinicus Rock, 20 miles offshore, had gusts to 77 mph. Bangor International Airport recorded winds at 75 mph.
The wind gusted to 53 mph at the Portland airport and 48 mph in Lewiston.
Inland, gusting winds continued to cause concern as whiteout conditions rendered driving treacherous.
Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said several vehicles, including many state police cruisers, were getting stuck in the deep snow.
By late afternoon, a state police dispatcher in Gray said there had been no serious accidents.
In Western Maine, traffic remained light, dispatchers in Franklin and Oxford counties said.
Other than the occasional Maine Department of Transportation plow and sanding trucks, few vehicles were seen on Route 2 between Wilton and Rumford during the morning and early afternoon. The road was plowed and sanded as light snow blew around in the wind.
Ski areas, including Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, welcomed the snow. Team Snow reported Saturday morning that Sunday River got 14 inches and was expecting 4 to 6 inches more.
“Mother Nature may have taken a month off, but she returned and came back with a big ole ka-POW!” Team Snow stated in the daily mountain report. “Sunday is shaping up to be the best day of the weekend with a return to temperatures in the mid-20s, bluebird skies, and plenty of powder stashes left over.”
The sun peeked through the cloud bank at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and lit up Mexico and Rumford. Snowfall, which was falling lightly by then, ended 90 minutes later.
Central Maine Power had prepared early.
By Friday, CMP’s storm response team had pre-positioned crews and materials and had put all employees on notice “to expect a more challenging day” on Saturday, said John Carroll, CMP spokesman.
Anticipating wind gusts in the 50s and heavy snow, crews were scheduled to begin work at 5 a.m. Saturday. The power company had ready 68 additional line crews from Maine and Canada, plus 130 tree crews to complement CMP’s regular contingent of 90 line crews and support personnel, Carroll said.
Beginning around noon Friday, the storm caused 18,420 outages, with 11,467 on Saturday morning, according to a CMP report. The outages were reduced to 9,723 by 9 a.m. Saturday as high winds and blowing snow continued to rake Maine, Carroll said.
“Our crews are responding to outage reports to ensure any downed equipment is de-energized to protect the public,” he said.
At the time, Cumberland County had the most outages at 3,707, while Oxford County had 1,322.
“In some instances, they can make immediate repairs, but they also have to weigh the risks of working aloft, considering the high winds, slippery roads and poor visibility,” Carroll said.
By 5 p.m., 320 outages remained.
Carroll said that thanks to extensive preparations made as the storm approached New England, crews kept pace with repairs as outages were reported during the storm.
“CMP expects to restore power to all customers by later this evening, although the possibility of further scattered outages or inaccessible damage may prolong the recovery,” he said.
More coverage
- Gorham has deepest snow with 35.5 inches
- New England begins the big dig-out after epic snow
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Maine adjusts benefits for members affected by storm
National Weather Service snowfall totals in inches as of Saturday afternoon:
* Gorham, 35.5
* Portland, 31.9
* Gray, 26.4
* Lewiston, 25.5
* South Turner, 24
* Otisfield, 24
* Augusta, 23
* Raymond, 20.5
* Durham, 18.8
* Dixfield, 11
* Farmington, 9.2
* North Jay, 9
* Phillips, 6.2
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- Richard Nezol, 69, right, and Anthony Wilson, 42, take turns shoveling out the apartment building Nezol lives in on Ash Street in Lewiston on Saturday morning. “I have a friend who lives here that I come over to check on,” Wilson said.
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- A snowplow operator clears the west-bound lane of Route 2 early Saturday afternoon in Mexico.
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- Friends, from left to right, Casey Vinal, Andrew Hensler and Michael Messier walk down Bates Street in Lewiston on Saturday morning before the sidewalks were cleared. A massive storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow on the city.
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- Martin and Deborah O’Brien leave Forage Market on Lisbon Street in Lewiston on Saturday morning. Despite more than 2 feet of snow, the market dug out paths and opened up for the day.
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- Don Fournier clears out a driveway along College Street on Saturday morning after a massive storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow and high winds caused waist-high drifts in Lewiston.
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- Jeremy Austin shovels the back ramp of an apartment building on Oxford Street in Lewiston on Saturday morning. “I’ve been out here for two to three hours,” Austin said.
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- Jodi McCafferty of the Norman and Jodi McCafferty Farm in Buckfield, said their 15-year-old Belgian stallion, Korry, in the background, and his 2-year-old colt, Chance, enjoyed the snowstorm Saturday.
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- Using the sidewalk plow, a Rumford Public Works crewman pushes snow onto Congress Street on Saturday afternoon. Crewman Dale Roberts, driving a grader, pushed it up the street to an awaiting bucket-loader operator.
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- Rumford Public Works crewman Dale Roberts removes snow plowed off the sidewalk on Saturday afternoon while heading up Congress Street in downtown Rumford.
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