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After Snowy Three Days, Storm Moves Out

January 05, 2010 - PORTLAND -- A storm that lingered over the state for three days dropped up to 18 inches of snow in some parts of southern and central Maine before it left Sunday morning.

The heaviest snowfall occurred during a 24-hour period between Saturday and Sunday mornings, according to a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Gray. Coastal flooding was reported in Cumberland and York counties.

Central Maine Power Co. said wind gusts of up to 45 mph did not create any widespread outages. Most of the snow was light and fluffy, and was blown off branches before it could accumulate.

If the snow had been wet and heavier, there might have been more outages, said Jim Brown, a weather service meteorologist.

"This particular storm was unusual in that it was of a very long duration," Brown noted.

The weather service reported snowfall accumulations varying widely over the three-day period, with Jay receiving 18 inches, Auburn 15 inches and Portland 9.9 inches.

Bath and Westbrook each got 9 inches, and Westport Island in Lincoln County received 13.5 inches. In York County, Saco recorded 7.8 inches, Kennebunk 11 inches and Sanford 9.5 inches.

The only major accident reported during the storm was in the central Maine town of China.

Maine State Police said a snowplow truck hit an elderly man Sunday morning on Route 202. He was in critical condition Sunday night at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. His name was not available Sunday.

Brown said the storm exhibited nor'easter qualities, but did not follow the track of a classic nor'easter.

Instead of moving north from the mid-Atlantic states, over Cape Cod and into the Gulf of Maine, the storm developed off the Canadian Maritime provinces before being drawn west and back to Maine by a low-pressure system.

Brown said the weather should remain mild over the next several days, with the next chance for a major winter storm on Friday.

By DENNIS HOEY, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, January 4, 2010


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