BRUNSWICK

The U.S. National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 4 p.m. Thursday. Heavy snow and difficult travel is expected, including during Thursday morning’s commute.

Total snow accumulations of between 12-18 inches are expected.

“Be prepared for snow covered and slippery roads, and significant reductions in visibility at times,” the weather service states. “Snow may be heavy and wet at times closer to the coast, and could lead to scattered power outages due to downed limbs.”

Local officials say preparation is key in bracing for one of the winter’s biggest storms expected to arrive tonight.

Sarah Bennett, director of Sagadahoc Emergency Management Agency, said power outages may occur as heavy wet snow has the potential to break tree limbs.

Bennett added Sagadahoc EMA encourages residents to have themselves prepared for up to 72 hours before a storm of this nature. Extra flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio are recommended. Sagadahoc EMA listed information on people of the anticipated conditions. The warning says travel will be difficult to impossible, including during the morning commute Thursday.

If travel is necessary Thursday, EMA suggests keeping a flashlight, food, and water in the car.

The snow may present a challenge for plow crews as well, and many towns had already issued parking bans by Tuesday, including Brunswick and Lisbon.

Straining budgets

Brunswick Public Works Director John Foster said the town has plenty of salt stored for the coming storm, but has nearly fully expended its allotment. The town is also over its sand budget by approximately $14,000.

The snow came early and often this year, and required a lot of sand this winter, Foster said, particularly during frigid temperatures when salt wasn’t effective.

Overtime costs are higher than average, he said, but are projected to remain within the budget. The town does, however, have seven routes contracted for clearing by Crooker Construction, which Foster said is trending to go over the amount budgeted.

The town’s policy has been to keep the roads as safe as possible.

“We try to be judicious and sparingly use enough salt, but certainly try to keep track of how much we’re using to not waste it,” Foster said.

Topsham Public Works Director Dennis Cox said overtime costs have been the major blow this winter to his budget. Storms have come on weekends and overnight. Crews worked Christmas and New Year’s.

With his budget 75 percent expended, Cox said he still needs to get to June 30 with what’s left. The snow started in October this year, he noted, and whether or not it sticks around, crews have to treat the roads.

The department has also been hit hard with maintenance expenses this winter. There have been two trucks down at once, leaving five trucks out of seven remaining.

The coming snow will be wet and will become packed in the road, Cox said, causing slippery conditions and requiring more salt. Because of recent warm temperatures, he said, road shoulders are soft and the snow banks that have guided drivers are gone. Because crews will be driving at night in poor visibility conditions, Cox said plows will likely hit soft ground, digging up lawns and snagging some tree belts. Crews will return in the spring to fix damage, he said.

He asked for the public’s patience and also reminded residents not pile snow on the sidewalks as they clear driveways.

“This is going to be a long storm,” he said. “We’ve got to get the roads done first and then we’ll get the sidewalks.”