Some roads in western Maine remain impassible and thousands of people are without power this morning courtesy of Tropical Storm Irene, but officials say they have not received reports of deaths or injuries caused by the storm.

Maine Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Lynette Miller said Route 27, a major thoroughfare through Franklin County, remains closed after two bridges were damaged by floodwaters.
Officials have closed one lane on other roads, including Route 4 in Madrid, Route 15 in Jackman and Route 16 in New Portland and Anson.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Irene moved over northern New England last night and are now 100 miles northwest of Holton, Maine, moving north-northeast at about 25 mph, said John Jensenius, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are now 35 mph, with higher gusts.

Jensenius said the storm dumped 4 to 8 inches of rain over western Maine and roughly 2 inches in the Portland area. The agency had unconfirmed reports of 10 inches of rain in Maine’s western mountains.

The Portland International Jetport reported wind gusts of 52 mph yesterday. The wind blew up to 56 mph in Augusta, 44 mph in Fryeburg, 36 mph in Sanford and 63 mph in Portsmouth, N.H.

Mount Washington reported winds up to 96 mph.
 


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