The fourth storm to hit the East Coast this month merely grazed Maine on Thursday, but it did create slippery travel conditions and cause several morning accidents.

The powerful nor’easter delivered a direct hit to the mid-Atlantic, however, dropping as much as a foot of snow in areas from Washington, D.C., to New York and disrupting travel along the East Coast.

Portland received 1.3 inches of snow Thursday, but the storm comes after a series of nor’easters this month that buried much of the state under multiple feet of snow. The total snowfall so far in March is 32.9 inches in Portland, according to the National Weather Service. The normal snowfall for the first 22 days of March is just 10 inches.

For the entire winter season, snowfall in Portland now totals 91 inches, shy of a record but well above the normal of 57.2 inches through Match 22.

Snow moved into coastal areas early Thursday, coating roads and reducing visibility during the morning commute.

The speed limit was reduced to 45 mph on the Maine Turnpike from the New Hampshire line to the New Gloucester barrier toll and oversized loads were not allowed on the turnpike.

Several cars slid off roads in Gorham and Westbrook during the morning commute. Traffic was backed up and reduced to one lane on Interstate 295 southbound in Freeport around 8 a.m. because of a car off the road.

The Portland International Jetport reported several delayed and canceled flights Thursday. More than 4,000 flights were canceled Wednesday at airports along the East Coast.

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