A number of schools across The County will close early in the wake of heavy snow expected to continue until the afternoon.
Though no schools in Presque Isle or surrounding communities canceled school altogether, all public schools in the area are letting students out early in the wake of the forecast.
Public school students from Presque Isle, Mapleton, Chapman, Castle Hill, Westfield, Fort Fairfield, Washburn, Mars Hill, Easton, Ashland, Masardis, Garfield Plantation, Oxbow Plantation will all be getting out of class early today. Additionally, all afterschool activities will be cancelled for the day.
Nearly every school district in the area dismissed students at 11:30 a.m. The lone exception is Central Aroostook Schools, which dismissed students at 11 a.m.
Additionally, all offices at the University of Maine at Presque Isle closed at noon. Northern Maine Community College closed at 10:30 a.m.
Todd Foisy, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Caribou, said that he expects heavy snow to continue until 2 or 3 p.m., at a rate of about two inches of snow per hour. He said that most parts of The County would receive approximately from 9 to 11 inches of snow.
Less severe snowfall will continue until midnight, though Foisy said this snow would be “pretty hazardous” as well.
“It’s not going to be a very long-lasting storm, but it is going to be very severe,” Foisy said.
Foisy recommended that people wait until late afternoon to drive if they can, and also to be aware of blowing snow around 2 p.m.
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce said they had not yet heard of any businesses closing due to the weather.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Maine State Police warned motorists across the state to be careful when driving and to “go slow” when driving during the snowstorm.
This story may be updated.
