MAINE, Maine — Cold, wind and heavy snow brought much of the southern half of Maine to a standstill Thursday, including more than 20,000 northern Maine homes left in the dark by a power outage.
Steady snow was predicted for much of the southern half of Maine, with more than one inch per hour at some times.
The city of Portland called its first parking ban of the season and said that as of 4 a.m., nearly 40 plows were on the road.
Still, just after 2 p.m., the city said plows were unable to keep up with the snow and would prioritize the city's main roads.
The snowfall in Portland seemed to slow at about 4 p.m., not long after NEWSCENTER Maine Meteorologist Jessica Conley posted snowfall amounts including 25.7 inches in Acton and 21 inches in Shapleigh.
Coastal southern Maine had less, ranging from 16.6 inches in Yarmouth to 13 inches in Portland. Further north, Bar Harbor reported 4 inches and Hampden 3.5 inches.
Multiple crashes were reported on the Maine Turnpike within a single hour midday.
RELATED: Big snow for southern Maine today
Versant Power said just after 1 p.m. Thursday that crews were investigating the source of an outage affecting 23,518 accounts in Aroostook County.
But 1:30 p.m. Versant showed nearly 25,000 customers without power from Bangor north.
Central Maine Power reported approximately 85 customers without electricity, nearly all in the Sagadahoc County town of Georgetown.
Snowstorm dumps several inches on Maine communities
NOON WEATHER UPDATE: