Mainers awoke to an early spring snow storm Saturday morning that could dump more than a foot of snow on parts of the state before clearing out on Sunday.
Western and northern parts of Maine could see from 10 to 18 inches of snow and sleet, including Greenville and Lincoln, according to the National Weather Service. Winds could gust to 35 mph. Far northern Maine could get up to 21 inches.
The state has seen little snow through most of the winter, making traditional sports like snowmobiling and skiing more difficult. Warmer than normal temperatures brought more rain than snow.
The storm started as all snow and is expected to turn to mixed precipitation. Road conditions will deteriorate and power outages are possible if the heavy wet snow brings down tree limbs, the weather service said.
Southern and coastal areas will get the least amount of snow at 1-3 inches.
The snow will be good news for events such as the U.S. Biathlon National Championships underway in Fort Kent and for snowmobilers and skiers.
Power companies Versant Power and Central Maine Power prepared for the storm by staging crews around their coverage areas in the state to handle downed trees and lines that may occur Saturday because of the wet snow and ice expected.
Versant had posted no outages by 9:30 a.m., while CMP was restoring power to more than 400 people in Bath and West Bath.
Interstate 95 was posted at 45 mph and only the travel lane was plowed, while cancellations and closures began to pile up with the snow Saturday morning. Some secondary roads were not plowed.
The winter storm warning will stay in effect until 8 a.m. Sunday, according to NWS.