Another week kicked off with slippery conditions, and roads remained snowy for Monday evening’s commute.
Light snow began falling across coastal York and Cumberland counties early Monday and continued through the day. Portland, Brunswick and other communities announced parking bans.
Temperatures were expected to reach a high of only 15 degrees in Portland, though Tuesday should be a more typical winter day, with temperatures in Portland approaching 30 degrees, and possibly even with some sunshine, said Chris Legro of the National Weather Service in Gray. The next snowfall could be Thursday into Friday, though the amount remains uncertain, he said.
Even though it was cold, which can produce light, fluffy snow, Monday’s snow was forming in a layer of the atmosphere that was relatively dry so it had the consistency of sand, leading to relatively small accumulations, Legro said. “It didn’t fall heavily but the snow itself is a heavier consistency than normal,” he said.
Through 1 p.m. Monday, Portland had received 72.9 inches of snow this season, measured at the Portland International Jetport. Last year through Feb. 8, the jetport had 53.3 inches. In a normal year, it gets 38 inches to this point. The average for an entire winter is 61.9 inches.
Cumberland County and the midcoast weren’t expected to pick up as much snow as York County, southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Ted Talbot, spokesman for the Maine Department of Transportation, said crews were able to keep the light snow clear from major roads.
“Unlike some of the previous storms, our plows are able to keep up with this one quite well,” Talbot said. “We don’t anticipate travel problems on the interstate or the major routes.”
Still, the weather did cause some problems.
A Maine State Police dispatcher reported several cars sliding off roads in the Portland area. In Gray, a fuel oil truck rolled, though nobody was hurt and no oil spilled.
The York County Sheriff’s Office responded to six vehicle crashes, none with injuries, through mid-afternoon.
The speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was reduced to 45 mph from Kittery to Augusta. Two crashes on the turnpike, in Saco and South Portland, slowed traffic during the morning commute, but were cleared before 9 a.m.
Many schools and child care centers across York and Cumberland counties closed or had delayed openings.
Portland officials urged residents to take precautions:
• Take frequent breaks when shoveling and make sure someone else knows where you are.
• Keep walkways and entrances clear in case emergency responders need access to your home. Residents also are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property.
• The city welcomes help in keeping its more than 2,000 fire hydrants clear of snow so they are easily accessed when there’s a fire.
Monday’s snow came from a front south of New England, with waves of low pressure running along it, delivering snow to New Hampshire and southern Maine, according to the National Weather Service in Gray.
Meanwhile, the weather service issued a gale warning for coastal waters, with winds of 34 to 47 mph and freezing spray.
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