Residents in Midcoast Maine awoke this morning to heavy wind and snowfall.
The National Weather Service out of Gray has a blizzard warning in effect until 7 p.m. tonight for the area. Snow was expected to fall as much as 2 to 4 inches an hour at times and winds to increase overnight and Monday, reaching 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.
According to the Maine Emergency Management
Agency: “National Weather Service representatives indicated that one to two feet of snowfall is expected from the mountains and foothills south to the coast with some spot totals possibly exceeding two feet. Strong wind gusts are expected to be problematic as well, especially along the coast and could cause power outages. A blizzard watch is currently in place along the coast for late Sunday into Monday. The most severe conditions are expected late Sunday through Monday. Utility companies are staging crews in advance and making arrangements for mutual assistance.”
The Midcoast had little respite after Thursday’s snow storm before another heavy dusting fell through the day Saturday — a precursor to the blizzard that arrived in Maine Sunday afternoon.
Police and public safety officials urged people to stay home.
“This is a serious storm and we urge all Mainers to prepare and stay off the roads so the DOT crews can safely clear the snow,” said MEMA Director Bruce Fitzgerald on Sunday.
Citing concerns for employees and carriers, The Times Record did not produce a print edition on Monday.
Instead, the paper offered its online edition for free.
Mid Coast Hospital announced its walk-in clinic at Brunswick Station and all Mid Coast Medical Group offices would be closed Monday. Its emergency department and essential services were to remain open.
The largest employer in the Midcoast, Bath Iron Works, had canceled the third shift for Sunday night and first shift Monday, calling only for essential personnel to report to work.
All local school districts canceled school Monday. Legislative offices were closed Monday as well on Sunday.
Many towns announced their offices would be closed Monday, including Brunswick, Bath, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Lisbon, Topsham, West Bath and Woolwich. Brunswick’s town council workshop Monday was postponed to Thursday.
Lisbon announced that if residents lose power, the town office will function as a warming facility they can access through the police entrance.
Brunswick issued a 36- hour parking ban, from 7 p.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. The municipal parking lot between Bank and Center streets will be open Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Topsham has a parking ban in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
THE TIMES RECORD did not produce a print edition on Monday. Instead, it the paper offered its online edition for free.
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