A late-season storm system chugged through Lincoln County on Tuesday, March 14, pummeling the area with six hours of blizzard conditions, but leaving little lasting damage behind, according to reports.
The storm system formed offshore of Cape Cod the night of Monday, March 13 as two weather fronts, one carrying moisture from the south and the other bringing Arctic temps from the north, merged into one large system, creating a significant storm for Lincoln County.
Snowfall quickly developed over Lincoln County Tuesday morning as the leading edge of the storm slid into the area. A winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service was in place as the first bands of snowfall passed through the area, and winds began to build out of the Northeast. As the system developed beyond forecast expectations, the NWS replaced the winter storm warning with a blizzard warning at 2:43 p.m.
Sustained northeasterly winds were clocked at 25-35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, and snowfall blanketed Lincoln County at the rate of 2-4 inches per hour, according to the NWS.
The first report of storm-related power outages came in at approximately 7 p.m., affecting a total of 329 households in South Bristol, Damariscotta, Nobleboro, and Boothbay Harbor, according to Central Maine Power Co. Later during the storm, outages were also reported in Waldoboro.
The number of outages never exceeded the number first reported, as CMP crews worked into the blustery nighttime hours to restore service. The 11:57 p.m. report on Tuesday from CMP had the number of outages in Lincoln County down to 122.
Although storm conditions began to ease by 10 p.m. Tuesday, the NWS maintained the blizzard warning into the morning hours of Wednesday, as of the NWS report at 12:15 a.m.
Snowfall accumulation varied widely, and measurements were challenging for weather watchers because of drifting snow. NWS estimates put the totals between 15 and 22 inches.
Precipitation began to vary in the early hours of Wednesday, as the storm moved out, changing from sleet to rain and back to snow.
