PORTLAND, Maine — Rain changing to snow and then heavy snow along with high winds throughout the day and evening left nearly 200,000 Mainers in the state without power just after 10 p.m.
Central Maine Power reported that 177,355 of its customers were in the dark, and Versant Power showed 16,109 outages.
Cumberland County accounted for 43,564 of those customers, York County for 26,268, Kennebec County for 23,992 and Androscoggin for 22,814.
Additional significant outages were in Oxford (12,546), Somerset (10,565) and Franklin (10,171) counties.
Versant reported its largest outages in Millinocket (1,502) and Glenburn (1,291).
On Friday afternoon, CMP said 300 line crews including out-of-state contractors were "positioned" and 175 tree crews were ready to respond.
Winds were gusting between 35 and 45 miles per hour in much of the state.
Parking bans were reported throughout the state, and scheduled events including a public supper and Sunday church services were canceled.
MESSY ROADS
The Franklin County Regional Communications Center and Gilead Volunteer Fire Department in Oxford County posted on Facebook early Saturday afternoon that there had been a number of crashes in those counties, and urged people to stay off the roads.
At 12:40, the speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was reduced to 45 miles per hour from the New Hampshire state line to mile 109 in Augusta, with no over limits permitted.
LATEST FROM NEWS CENTER Maine
More than a foot of snow was predicted for part of the state, with the height of the storm slated for 4 p.m. to midnight. Meteorologist Jessica Conley said later in the evening that the Portland area was likely to receive only a couple of inches.
The Downeast coast and Penobscot Bay were predicted to see mostly rain.
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PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
We also want your storm-related pictures and video. You can send to us via the Near ME section in our mobile app. Check out this story to see how you can send to us. One note; please shoot horizontal or sideways, so the pics and video look great on TV.
Near ME | Weekend Maine nor'easter weather photos
