Power crews on standby with outages likely in Maine during Monday's storm
Power crews on standby with outages likely in Maine during Monday’s storm
Central Maine Power said it was putting extra crews at service centers across the state
WELCOME BACK. IT’S NOW 713. WE HAVE THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM TODAY, BUT A TOTAL WEATHER ALERT IS IN PLACE ON MONDAY WITH PRECIPITATION OCCURRING EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED AND REDUCED VISIBILITY, MAKING QUITE TREACHEROUS TRAVEL. SO TRY TO HEAD OUT TODAY TO FILL UP THE GAS TANKS, CHECK YOUR SNOWBLOWER, GRAB ANY FOOD OR SUPPLIES, AND CHECK IN ON LOVED ONES AS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE, YOU COULD BE SNOWED IN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE FURTHER TOWARDS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. MAINE IS NOT GETTING THE BRUNT OF THIS SYSTEM, SO ENJOY WHAT WE CAN FOR TODAY. SUNNY CONDITIONS, 34 DEGREES. WE’RE STILL GOING TO BE GETTING THAT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL. CURRENT CONDITIONS LOOKING AT TEN IN PORTLAND, FOUR TOWARDS LEWISTON AND SATELLITE AND RADAR. THANKFULLY NICE AND CLEAR THIS MORNING AND WILL REMAIN MOSTLY SUNNY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 29 DEGREES AS WE HEAD TOWARDS 11 A.M., 33 DEGREES BY 2 P.M. WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD COVER TOWARDS THE AFTERNOON, BUT IT’S GOING TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT WARMER MID 30S THROUGHOUT THE STATE, UPPER 20S NEAR THE MOUNTAINS AND 39 IN WISCASSET SO NEAR 40 DEGREES. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE EIGHT DAY FORECAST FOR THE TOTAL WEATHER ALERT ON YOUR MONDAY. YOU NOTICE THE HIGH OF 28 DEGREES. THAT’S GOING TO INDICATE THE SNOW THAT FALLS IS GOING TO BE HEAVY AND WET. YOU MAY REMEMBER LATE JANUARY WHERE WE SAW THAT LIGHT AND FLUFFY SNOW AMOUNTS CLOSE TO 20IN. YEAH, THAT’S NOT WHAT WE’RE GETTING TOMORROW. THE HEAVY, WET, DENSE SNOW AS WELL AS THE WIND. THAT’S THE REASON WE’RE IN A TOTAL WEATHER ALERT FOR SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. AS I MENTIONED, NOT AS BAD AS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT WE’RE STILL GOING TO BE LOOKING AT 9 TO 12 ALONG OUR COASTLINE, 6 TO 9 THROUGH THE 95 CORRIDOR. AND LEWISTON AUGUSTA MOVING IN TOWARDS BANGOR. AND IF YOU ARE FURTHER NORTH, YOU WILL GET LESS IMPACTS FROM THIS STORM. BUT EXPECT EVERYONE TO SEE SIGNIFICANT WINDS AND HEAVY SNOW ARRIVES BETWEEN 4 TO 7 IN THE MORNING ON YOUR MONDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. YOU’LL NOTICE THE COASTLINE WILL HAVE THE HEAVIEST BANDS BEGIN TO SET UP, BUT EVEN INTO THE AFTERNOON, SNOW CONTINUES AND WILL BEGIN TO BREAK UP AROUND 9 TO 10:00. ON MONDAY EVENING. WE’RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THE SNOWFALL INTENSITY RAPIDLY CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, EVEN INTO THE AFTERNOON. MODERATE SNOWFALL EXPECTED ALL THE WAY FROM THE COASTLINE THE MOUNTAINS WILL STAY RATHER LIGHT, BUT DON’T LET THAT FOOL YOU, BECAUSE WE’RE STILL GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE WIND. WIND GUSTS FORECAST FROM THE MOUNTAINS COMING AROUND 18 TO 20MPH, BUT I’M REALLY WATCHING THE COASTLINE 40 TO EVEN 50 MILE AN HOUR GUSTS AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. EVEN BY 5:00, 56 MILE AN HOUR WIND GUSTS POTENTIAL IN ROCKLAND. SO WATCH THAT CLOSELY. IF YOU ARE ALONG THE COASTLINE INLAND. FORECAST WATCHING THAT TOTAL WEATHER ALERT FOR YOUR MONDAY WILL BE BREEZY BY TUESDAY. CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS BY WEDNESDAY AND I AM WATCHING. ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. SO JAMIE, IT IS A VERY BUSY FORECAST OUT THERE. AND I THINK WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR VIEWERS TO KNOW IS THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT A BLIZZARD WARNING. ANYONE FURTHER SOUTH IS LOOKING AT THAT. SOUTH SHORE OF MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT AND NEW JERSEY. BUT WE COULD HAVE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IF THE WIND GUSTS AT 30MPH AND THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CONTINUES FOR THREE PLUS HOURS. RIGHT.
Power crews on standby with outages likely in Maine during Monday’s storm
Central Maine Power said it was putting extra crews at service centers across the state
With a blizzard warning posted for the entire coast of Maine on Monday and a winter storm warning for much of the rest of the state, Central Maine Power (CMP) is preparing for potential outages.The company said Sunday it was staffing extra crews at service centers across the region to allow them to respond as quickly as possible to outages.The storm is forecast to bring winds possibly exceeding 50 miles per hour. Crews cannot raise the bucket arms on their trucks when winds are greater than 30 mph, so the conditions could delay the ability to restore power in some areas. In every storm, CMP helps local emergency management agencies clear roads blocked by downed trees. Falling trees are the leading cause of outages at CMP and road clearing can occur, even when it is too windy for crews to work in the air in buckets. Click here to see parking bans and our full closings and delays list.If your power goes out, stay calm and do not call 911 unless there is an emergency. There are several steps you can take to stay safe during an outage. Keep your phone charged with a portable battery pack. Use flashlights rather than candles to reduce the risk of fire. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food will stay cold for about four hours in the refrigerator and up to 48 hours in a full freezer. If you have medications that need to be refrigerated, make sure they are stored properly.Check on neighbors, especially older adults, young children, and anyone with medical needs. Conserve battery power on devices by closing unnecessary apps and reducing screen brightness. Keep warm by wearing layers and using blankets, and avoid using ovens or grills for heat.Power Outage Safety Reminders:Stay away from downed power lines and assume all wires are live.If your power goes out, unplug major appliances and sensitive electronics to avoid damage from power surges.Do not use kitchen stoves or outdoor grills for heating.For emergency shelter or food assistance, dial 211 for available resources.Generator Safety Tips:For customers using generators, CMP recommends the following:Hire a licensed electrician for permanent installations.Properly ground portable generators.Never run a generator indoors or in an open garage.If a carbon monoxide detector sounds, get out of the building immediately and call 911.Store fuel properly and never refuel a running generator.For more information on storm safety and power restoration, visit CMP’s website.
With a blizzard warning posted for the entire coast of Maine on Monday and a winter storm warning for much of the rest of the state, Central Maine Power (CMP) is preparing for potential outages.
The company said Sunday it was staffing extra crews at service centers across the region to allow them to respond as quickly as possible to outages.
The storm is forecast to bring winds possibly exceeding 50 miles per hour. Crews cannot raise the bucket arms on their trucks when winds are greater than 30 mph, so the conditions could delay the ability to restore power in some areas.
In every storm, CMP helps local emergency management agencies clear roads blocked by downed trees. Falling trees are the leading cause of outages at CMP and road clearing can occur, even when it is too windy for crews to work in the air in buckets.
Click here to see parking bans and our full closings and delays list.
If your power goes out, stay calm and do not call 911 unless there is an emergency.
There are several steps you can take to stay safe during an outage. Keep your phone charged with a portable battery pack. Use flashlights rather than candles to reduce the risk of fire. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food will stay cold for about four hours in the refrigerator and up to 48 hours in a full freezer. If you have medications that need to be refrigerated, make sure they are stored properly.
Check on neighbors, especially older adults, young children, and anyone with medical needs. Conserve battery power on devices by closing unnecessary apps and reducing screen brightness. Keep warm by wearing layers and using blankets, and avoid using ovens or grills for heat.
Power Outage Safety Reminders:
- Stay away from downed power lines and assume all wires are live.
- If your power goes out, unplug major appliances and sensitive electronics to avoid damage from power surges.
- Do not use kitchen stoves or outdoor grills for heating.
- For emergency shelter or food assistance, dial 211 for available resources.
Generator Safety Tips:
For customers using generators, CMP recommends the following:
- Hire a licensed electrician for permanent installations.
- Properly ground portable generators.
- Never run a generator indoors or in an open garage.
- If a carbon monoxide detector sounds, get out of the building immediately and call 911.
- Store fuel properly and never refuel a running generator.
For more information on storm safety and power restoration, visit CMP’s website.