LITTLETON, Maine — Freezing temperatures and biting winds whipping snow across roads continued to affect residents and cause travel difficulties across the northern and eastern part of the state Monday.
As a low pressure system moved across the state Sunday, winds as high as 48 mph were reported at the Millinocket Municipal Airport, and up to 47 mph winds were reported in Blue Hill and Sedgwick, according to Tim Duda, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Caribou.
“They were very strong, but we did not get any reports of wind damage from our weather spotters,” he said.
Gusts were still in the high 20s Monday, he said, and whiteout conditions continued creating headaches for drivers in some areas.
Maximum temperatures Monday averaged 10 to 15 degrees below normal for this time of year, Duda said. Much of the state saw highs only in the 20s, with temperatures in the North Woods not climbing out of the teens.
“We expect the winds to drop off tonight,” Duda said Monday. “The winds should be light tomorrow.”
While all of Route 1 between Presque Isle and Caribou was closed Sunday evening because of blowing snow that reduced visibility to zero, no closures were reported Monday.
Nevertheless, Jessica McIver of Caribou said Monday that she was “sick to death” of the wind and snow.
McIver said she had promised to let her two young children go outside to build snow forts on both days over the weekend, but had to break that promise.
“It was just too cold and windy both days,” she said. “This is bad. Usually by this time of year I can at least envision myself buying sunflower seeds. But all I see is snow shovels everywhere.”
A high pressure system is expected to move into the state on Tuesday, bringing sun and lighter winds, according to the NWS. Temperatures will be in the upper 20s to mid-30s on Tuesday, and are expected to rise above freezing Wednesday night and stay that way until Friday.
The warmer temperatures, however, bring with them different concerns.
A hazardous weather outlook for east central and southeast Maine is in effect for Tuesday through Sunday.
A prolonged warm up, according to the NWS, along with rainfall expected during that time, will likely result in moving ice floes on area rivers and the potential risk for minor flooding.