Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

March 20

Spring begins in central Maine with shovels, snowblowers and plows

By Rachel Ohm rohm@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE — Central Maine welcomed the first day of spring with about a foot of new snow Wednesday, the day after a large snowstorm made its way through the region.

Snowfall averages included 10.5 inches in Augusta, 12 inches in Cornville and 12.5 inches in Skowhegan, according to the National Weather Service. Waterville got 11 inches, according to Public Works Director Mark Turner.

No more snow is expected for the rest of the week, although temperatures will be unseasonably cold, said Tom Hawley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray. The storm closed most schools and some area businesses Tuesday and was the cause of at least one major car accident.

Some schools, including those in Skowhegan-based School Administrative District 54, were delayed two hours on Wednesday morning.

A Thorndike woman remained in critical condition after an accident Tuesday in Benton in which her SUV collided with a tractor-trailer.

Jeannine Ann, 65, was being treated Wednesday for serious injuries at Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to a statement from Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The truck, which was being driven by Michael Hogan, 31, of Bangor, was hauling salt when the accident happened about 12:30 p.m.

John Lacoste, a trooper with the Maine State Police, said the accident was weather-related. It appeared that Ann lost control of her vehicle, slid across the road and into the oncoming lane of traffic, he said.

In Waterville, Turner said the storm kept city plow crews busy through Tuesday night, although streets were cleared and in good condition Wednesday.

He said plow crews would be removing snow from the downtown area overnight Thursday.

For the rest of the week, daytime highs should be in the mid- to upper 30s, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the teens, Hawley said.

Snow showers are possible Thursday and Friday, but the chance of accumulation is low, he said. Snow is also possible for Monday or Tuesday, although it may be confined to more southern parts of the state, he said.

Spokespeople for area ski and snowtubing mountain resorts said they were happy about the prospects of a winter that won't go away.

Saddleback ski resort in Rangeley reported 21 to 23 inches of new snow, and Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley reported 18 inches from the storm.

Sugarloaf's lodging reservations for the weekend were almost all booked, communications manager Ethan Austin said.

"We are beyond happy. We have a ton of snow, and that means there is a lot of winter left," he said.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
rohm@mainetoday.com

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