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Snow catches some drivers off guard

By Jen Lynds, BDN Staff

Posted Nov. 30, 2009, at 8:04 p.m.
Last modified Jan. 30, 2011, at 11:38 a.m.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JEN L

Littleton, taken 11/30/09: The first significant snowfall in southern Aroostook County coated tree limbs but could not completely cover some leftover summer flowers along U.S. Route 1 in Littleton Monday. Snow began falling in the early morning hours, and cities and towns across The County called out public works crews to treat roadways. The most snow fell in Mars Hill, where 4.5 inches was recorded. (BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JEN LYNDS) Buy Photo

CARIBOU, Maine — In most parts of Aroostook County on Monday, it was not possible to make a snowman, but there was enough snow and slush to send unprepared drivers skidding off roads in parts of the region.

Snow began falling in the early morning hours, and cities and towns across The County called out public works crews to treat roadways.

“Most of Aroostook County got snow, while other parts of the state mainly received rain,” Mark Bloomer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Caribou, said Monday. “The heaviest amounts fell in east-central Aroostook.”

The most snow fell in Mars Hill, where 4.5 inches was recorded.

In Presque Isle and Monticello, residents awoke to 3.2 inches of snow, while 3 inches was reported in Linneus. In Houlton, 2.3 inches accumulated.

In the St. John Valley, Van Buren picked up 1.3 inches of snow.

The least amount of snow fell in Stockholm, where 1 inch was recorded.

In Caribou, police were busy dealing with motorists who were unprepared for the snow.

“We have had cars off the road because people are driving too fast for conditions or they have not put their snow tires on yet,” Sgt. Ron Curtis of the Caribou Police Department said Monday. “It’s been busy, but we haven’t had anything serious happen.”

In Fort Kent and Madawaska, where lesser amounts of snow fell, police reported one car off the road in each town.

Presque Isle police Sgt. Mark Barnes also said snow and slush sent a few cars sliding off the road, but no serious injury or property damage was reported.

Bloomer said another weather system should move through the region Thursday. At this point, he said, radar indicates it likely will bring rain to the area.