By MECHELE COOPER Staff Writer AUGUSTA — The roads weren’t great Monday morning, but with snow falling at a rate of an inch an hour, conditions worsened later in the day, setting up for another snowy day today.
Gov. John Baldacci took heed of the winter storm warning that continued until 7 a.m. today and sent state workers home early Monday.
The National Weather Service said a foot of snow was possible in the mountains of northern New England by the time the storm concludes, with the potential for 20 inches in northern Maine and wind gusts statewide of up to 40 mph today.
Ice storm warnings were issued for Massachusetts and Connecticut, while winter storm warnings were in effect until 7 a.m. today in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, northern and western New York, and Maine.
By 10:30 a.m. Monday morning, 4 inches of snow had fallen in Augusta.
Augusta snow was measured at 9 inches at 5:46 p.m., weather service officials said.
Just before 6 p.m., National Weather Service observers had reported only smattering of unofficial snowfall totals made by volunteer weather observers.
A Freedom observer reported 7 inches at 2:45 p.m., according to weather service records. Skowhegan was listed at 8 inches at 4:15 p.m and Athens and New Sharon at 7 inches about 3:30 p.m., while Turner had accumulated 6 inches by 4:39 p.m.
“I’m looking at 8 to 10 inches accumulated over most of your area, and we’re looking to have an additional 3 to 5 inches falling througout the evening,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Kirk Apffel shortly before 6 p.m. Monday. “It looks like most areas (in central Maine), by the end, will have over a foot.
“In Kennebec County, you still have several hours to go and probably will keep going through daybreak (today),” Apffel said. Snowfall totals as recorded by National Weather Service volunteer observers may be obtained online by doing a Web search on the key word “pnsgyx” and looking for the “public information statement,” Apffel said.
Police urged commuters to use extra caution and to give themselves extra time to get home in the state’s first major snowstorm of the season — advice also sure to be useful during today’s morning commute.
Several cars slid off the Maine Turnpike by the time Monday’s morning rush was under way, but no accidents were reported on the toll highway.
Farther north, state police in Skowhegan also said no serious accidents had occurred.
“We have a few fender-benders, nothing drastic yet,” said Maine State Police Lt. Don Pomerleau. Trooper Hugh Landry said that trend appeared to be continuing during the nighttime hours as well.
“It does seem quiet. There’s only been a few ........
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Staff Writer Gary Remal contributed to this report.
Mechele Cooper — 623-3811, Ext. 408 mcooper@centralmaine.com
