Woman on noon news said travel was a bit slow this AM. Took her little under an hour 2 go from Lew-Aub area to Kennebunk. Ya It’s 50+ miles!
— Maine Turnpike (@MaineTurnpike) November 27, 2013
GRAY — Whipping winds, driving rain and snow throughout the state have prompted multiple weather advisories and delayed and cancelled flights.
Bangor International Airport reported Wednesday morning that two inbound flights have been cancelled, a 12:30 p.m. Delta departure from LaGuardia Airport in New York and a 3 p.m U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia, according to Airport Marketing Director Risteen Bahr.
In addition, BIA’s 3:25 p.m. flight to Philadelphia has been canceled, Bahr said, while two other U.S. Airways flights to Philadelphia have been delayed. Travelers are advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
In Portland, only two delays – Delta’s 5:40 a.m. flight to LaGuardia and U.S. Airways’ 11:25 a.m. flight to Philadelphia – were reported.
Bahr said LaGuardia and Philadelphia are both experiencing heavy delays due to weather conditions.
As the storm continues to wreak havoc on the final day of Thanksgiving travel, flood watches and winter weather advisories are in effect throughout the state.
The flood watch is in effect through Wednesday afternoon and includes Androscoggin, central Somerset, Cumberland, Waldo, York, Lincoln, Kennebec, Franklin, Oxford and Sagadahoc counties, according to the National Weather Service’s Gray office.
Northern parts of the state are expected to see a mix of freezing rain and snow, and a winter weather advisory is in effect through Wednesday for northwest Aroostook, northeast Penobscot and Somerset counties.
High winds gusting between 30 and 45 miles per hour could blow debris across roadways throughout the state, so motorists are advised to allow plenty of time to arrive at destinations. Power outages are likely as well.
A Central Maine Power Co. spokeswoman Gail Rice says the company is reporting about 2,800 outages throughout the state on Wednesday.
She says the hardest hit areas have been Waldo and Penobscot Counties and along Maine’s coast.
Rice says all CMP employees are on notice that they may have to be called in over the holiday to restore the outages.
Bangor Hydro Electric was reporting about 1,700 outages Wednesday morning.
CMP is encouraging residents to keep battery-operated flashlights and radios nearby in case power is lost. It says when using emergency heating sources, like a wood stove, to make sure to the space is ventilated properly.
Customers are urged to stay away from downed power lines.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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