While central and northern parts of Aroostook County appeared to dodge a major blast of snow from Wednesday’s storm, the same could not be said about the southern part of The County and the rest of Maine.
Dale Clifford shows off how much snow had fallen in Linneus by Wednesday morning. Although the National Weather Service reported 8.5 inches of snow in the Houlton area, some of spots received significantly higher amounts. Clifford’s tape measure indicates a little over 16 inches in Linneus. (Courtesy of Jodi Hall)
The state’s third nor’easter in two weeks — clobbered much of the state with more than 20 inches of snow in some places and dumped as much as 23 inches in parts of southern Maine and Down East, according to the National Weather Service.
Mark Bloomer, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Caribou, said Wednesday morning that central and northern sections of Aroostook County received only 1-2 inches of snow Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.
In the greater Houlton area, however, the snow totals were much higher with 8.5 inches officially reported by 8 a.m. Wednesday, Bloomer said. Some residents reported considerably higher totals to the Houlton Pioneer Times, with one reader showing more than 16 inches in Linneus Wednesday morning.
The snow totals for southern Aroostook County will likely be somewhere in the 16-24 inch range by the time the storm winds down late Wednesday. Residents can expect the snow to continue throughout the day, and gradually push its way north to the Presque Isle-Caribou areas and eventually to the St. John Valley.
“We will see snow throughout the day and into the evening tonight,” Bloomer said. “It will gradually be weakening, but there are still several bands of heavy snow yet to come.”
In the far north, the precipitation is expected to continue into Thursday morning, leaving up to 6 inches on the ground.
This measurement indicates that more than 16 inches of snow had fallen in Linneus as of Wednesday morning. (Courtesy of Jodi Hall)
Schools, government offices and some businesses across The County closed on Wednesday. The University of Maine Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College also shut down for the day, while the University of Maine Fort Kent announced it would close at 3 p.m.
While the fresh powder may be welcome by skiers, Bigrock Mountain is closed on Wednesday due to forecasts of high winds, Bigrock manager Travis Kearney said in a Facebook post. Wednesdays are the ski area’s “wicked cheap” days, with $5 lift tickets and $10 rentals, and that deal will be available on Thursday, he said.
As Steve Trudel, 68, shoveled his driveway on Third Street Wednesday morning when he said he wouldn’t mind if Aroostook County would “hurry up and get to springtime.”
“I’m not sure how tall this pile is,” he said, pointing to a decent-sized pile of snow next to his driveway. “But outside my kitchen window there’s a pile that goes up to the gutter and I’d say that’s about 16 feet.”
“I shouldn’t be shoveling snow. My son usually brings his snowblower, but he has the flu,” Trudel continued, as he took a break from shoveling. In regards to recent snow storms he said, “I guess there’s not really much we can do except take them as they come.”
In Mars Hill, Michael and Bobbie Jo Stiggle, owners of Timberwolves Restaurant, were tending to a few customers during the storm Wednesday and expecting a larger dinner crowd.
“We’re going to ride it out,” Michael Stiggle said. “That’s what you do in Mars Hill. I’m not going to close because of the snow.”
Stiggle said he’s happy to see ongoing late winter snow as a boost for snowmobilers and skiers. With Bigrock Mountain closed due to forecasted high winds, Stiggle was also expecting some of the ski area’s work crews to take the night off and enjoy a meal and drinks.
“We’re hanging out here and listening to music. When customers come in, I’ll cook.”
Writers Melissa Lizotte and Anthony Brino of The Star-Herald contributed to this report.
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- March 14 snow led to treacherous travel on the Carson Road in Woodland, which was covered in a fair amount of snow and slush. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- March 14 snow led to treacherous travel on the Carson Road in Woodland, which was covered in a fair amount of snow and slush. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- Motorists travel Bennett Drive in Caribou, over slick roads with lowered visibility on March 14. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- A Maine Department of Transportation plow truck heads south on Route 1 through Main Street in Mars Hill around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. (Anthony Brino | Star-Herald)
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- Michael and Bobbie Jo Stiggle, owners of Timberwolves Resturant in Mars Hill, take a lunch order from a customer during the March 15 snowstorm. We’re going to ride it out. That’s what you do in Mars Hill,” said Michael Stiggle. (Anthony Brino | Star-Herald)
