Lincoln County residents started the week digging out twice as back-to-back storms barreled through the area on Monday and Tuesday with snowfall expected on Wednesday as well.
As of press time, the forecast snowfall total for the Tuesday storm is 5-9 inches, making for 10-18 inches of forecast accumulation for both events, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Exact snowfall totals are still pending as the Tuesday storm is still continuing at press time on Wednesday.
No major incidents were reported during either storm, according to Kimberly Kaiser of the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA). Only isolated power outages were reported for the Monday storm.
As of 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Central Maine Power was reporting scattered power outages in Bristol, Damariscotta, Nobleboro, South Bristol, Westport Island, and Boothbay.
Forecasters were surprised by both storms – both of which strayed from their anticipated tracks, chugging north instead and intensifying in the Gulf of Maine.
At 3:03 a.m. on Wednesday, the NWS issued a bulletin that an additional 1-3 inches of snowfall would accumulate before a Winter Storm Warning ends at noon. Some snowfall or flurries may continue through the evening hours, according to forecasters.
Emergency crews were responding to reports of minor traffic accidents and snow heavy tree limbs on electrical wires during the morning hours on Wednesday, according to the LCEMA.
“Drivers should adjust their speed during this kind of weather,” Kaiser said. “Most of the people going off the road are also going way too fast.”
Kaiser warned that a storm forecast to bring rainfall to Lincoln County during the latter part of this weekend may include flooding and other problems after the heavy snowfall.
“Residents should clear drainage areas of snowfall to prevent flooding” Kaiser said.
