#SJstorm: Lewiston-Auburn braces for snow and sleet

The first snowstorm of the winter means Lewiston-Auburn should get six to eight inches on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, which on Monday issued a storm watch for Maine.

Franklin and Oxford counties are expected to get more snow — between 8 inches and a foot, National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Pohl said.

Snow is expected to start falling in Maine after early Tuesday morning.

“It definitely will be going by the morning commute,” Pohl said.

The heaviest snow in Lewiston-Auburn will be between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. The evening commute will be snowy, but snow is expected to be less heavy by dark.

At the end of the storm, there could be some freezing drizzle in Lewiston-Auburn.

On Tuesday, the high will be about 28 degrees — a big change from the 50-degree temperatures Maine experienced around Christmas.

Dec. 28 represents the second-latest date for a first snowfall for the Portland area, Pohl said. The latest date the area has received its first measurable snowfall is Jan. 16, 2000, according to the National Weather Service.

December could set a record for being the warmest in Maine, with Christmas Day seeing temperatures as high as 62. But with a few days left in the month, it’s too early to tell, Pohl said. Like many, he’s enjoyed the warmth.

“I’m a golfer,” he said. “It’s been awesome.”

At VIP Tires & Service on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, the phones were ringing steadily with customers wanting snow tires, Assistant Manager Amanda Bray said.

“We are busy,” Bray said.

As soon as VIP opened Monday, callers wanted to schedule snow tire installations on their vehicle. Tuesday will likely be busy, too, Bray said.

She’s worked at VIP for three years and doesn’t remember snow arriving this late.

“To go this long without snow was nice — a little break,” Bray said. “But it’s going to happen.”

Auburn and Lewiston public works officials said milder temperatures have meant saving on overtime.

“I like it — we’re saving a bunch of money,” Lewiston Public Works Director David Jones said. “OT’s down to nothing. I played golf the day after Christmas.”

Jones and Auburn Public Works Deputy Director Scott Holland said crews have tackled projects that would have been a luxury most winters, like removing leaves that would have stayed until spring and cleaning up vacant lots.

On Monday, Lewiston crews were hooking up plows. Auburn plow trucks were ready for the snow, Holland said.

“We expected it way before this,” he said.

The fact that students are on Christmas break helps.

“It cuts down on traffic,” Jones said.

Having the first snowstorm so late has been a gift to highway crews, Jones said. “After last winter, they were tired. None of them were looking forward to it this year. In the last two years, they had to work on Christmas. This year, they didn’t have to. We like that.”

Now “they’re ready,” Jones said.

African native Rilwan Osman, who is experiencing his 10th year in Lewiston, remembered the first time he saw snow.

“It was winter when I came,” he said. “I saw a lot of white. I came on a Greyhound bus wearing sandals.”

He had heard it would be cold in Maine, but didn’t think it would bother him.

It did.

At first, “I didn’t want to stay here. I said, ‘This is not the right place for me.’ In the refugee camp, it was always 100 degrees.”

Eventually he and others from Africa adjusted to Maine winters.

“I am used to it,” Osman said. “I now dress for the snow, but I’m not happy about it.”

Many children of immigrant families are delighted with snow. Some in the Somali youth programs have asked for winter programs such as skating, Osman said.

“My son loves snow,” Osman said. “The kids definitely love snow more than the parents because they get to play with snow and build snowmen.”

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

WGME video

SN begins tonight and spreads from NH to ME by daybreak; changing to a mix w/ sleet/FZRA in southern NH. #nhwx #mewx

Posted by US National Weather Service Gray ME on Monday, December 28, 2015

UPDATES

Auburn will allow street parking until 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The parking ban will be lifted at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
The City of Lewiston has declared a parking ban beginning at noon on Tuesday. It should be over at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Learn more about where to park in Lewiston.
Lisbon has banned street parking from midnight on Tuesday until midnight on Wednesday.
WGME has listed more bans and cancellations around Maine.