Moira Meehan shovels her driveway Tuesday morning on Cook Street in Auburn as the snow begins to pile up during the first snowstorm of the year. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Maine saw its first significant snowfall of the season Tuesday, leaving roads slick, offices closed and some residents scrambling for parking.
Forecasters had predicted 3-6 inches would accumulate across coastal Maine, with inland regions expected to see more than 8 inches by Tuesday evening, when snow was predicted to fall at up to an inch per hour.
As the ground around them began to turn white in the morning, Mike Boyson and Nancy Grant took the opportunity to walk along Portland’s Back Cove.
“I love, love, love the snow,” Grant said as the pair made their way back home.
A few blocks away, Alexia Harger took in her first-ever walk through snow. She moved to Portland from Florida about two months ago.
Harger trekked downtown with her dog, Kygo — staying careful not to slip. Hours into the storm, she already had a verdict.
Alexia Harger, of Portland, and her dog, Kygo, walk through downtown Portland during southern Maine’s first significant snowfall of the season Tuesday. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
“I’m really enjoying it,” Harger said.
Some of the heaviest snowfall was anticipated to hit after sundown, according to the National Weather Service.
By 9 p.m., the weather service reported that Fryeburg had recorded 6 inches of snow, while the Lewiston area was just shy of that with 5.9 inches. The Portland International Jetport reported 2.1 inches and most other areas of southern Maine had received between 2 inches and 5.5 inches by Tuesday night.
Most of northern Maine saw 3 or fewer inches of snow as of about 7:40 p.m., according to the weather service, though 5.5 inches were recorded in Baileyville, 5.3 inches in Grand Lake Stream, 5 inches in Springfield, 4.1 inches in Presque Isle, and 4 inches in Cary, Calais and Lincoln.
The flurrying flakes and pillowy powder delighted a handful of new Mainers as they walked through Lewiston to pick up supplies.
Joli Gembize, a recent immigrant from Rwanda, walked with members of her family Tuesday morning. Snowflakes landed in her braided hair.
“It’s so beautiful and nice,” Gembize said.
Joli Gembize is covered in snow Tuesday morning as she and her family and friends walked back from a store with food and supplies. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Elsewhere in Lewiston, Kaitlyn Curtis strolled down Cedar Street, following as her emotional support dog, Moth, left paw prints in the powder. The dog wore pink booties “to keep him warm and the salt out of his paws,” she said.
In neighboring Auburn, resident Moira Meehan was almost completely bundled up, with just a fraction of her face peeking through a fuzzy hat as she shoveled her driveway.
“I really like (the snow), except when I have to go out to get to work,” Meehan said.
CLOSURES, DELAYS
The storm prompted hundreds of closures, including schools, state and municipal offices, courthouses and food pantries.
Town governments were split over whether to meet as scheduled Tuesday night or postpone. South Portland and Gorham moved their council meetings, but Hallowell’s and Lewiston’s city councils said they would still convene.
The Harrison Food Bank closed because of the snow Tuesday, organizers said.
The food bank, which distributes food to more than 1,100 families from 63 communities each week, will instead deliver food on Wednesday morning. It will be open from 12-6 p.m. Wednesday for drive-thru pickup.
Other food banks, including the Saco Food Pantry and First County Food Pantry, announced temporary closures or limited hours to avoid the worst of the weather.
Traffic passes through Augusta on the Maine Turnpike, which reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on Tuesday. Even so, the Turnpike Authority reported dozens of crashes throughout the day. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Speeds on the Maine Turnpike were reduced to 45 mph for most of Tuesday, beginning in the early morning, and no oversized vehicles were permitted on the road. The Maine Turnpike Authority reported dozens of crashes throughout the day, from Ogunquit to West Gardiner.
Maine State Police had responded to approximately 50 crashes as of 7:30 p.m., a spokesperson said.
Many cities and towns — including Portland, Biddeford, Lewiston and Freeport — issued overnight parking bans through Wednesday morning.
At least 22 flights in and out of the Portland jetport were delayed as of 4:30 p.m., but none had been canceled, according to FlightAware, which tracks aviation traffic.
And despite warnings that the snowfall could impact electrical service, Maine’s two largest utilities — Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power — each reported relatively few outages by 4 p.m.
Staff Photographers Russ Dillingham and Daryn Slover and Staff Writers Gillian Graham and Drew Johnson contributed reporting.
