Winter's not done yet: Nor'easter causes delays, headaches

Photo / Peter Van Allen By mid-morning Tuesday, Portland's Monument Square was in a blizzard, with few pedestrians inclined to brave the elements.

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By Staff

Winter Storm Stella roared into Maine Tuesday morning, causing flight delays, business cancellations and warnings from the power companies.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning through 5 a.m. Wednesday, saying parts of Maine could receive 18 to 24 inches of snow, combined with wind gusts up to 50 mph. The storm has affected much of the East Coast, from Washington, D.C., up through New York City and Boston. Snow started in the Portland area around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday.

The blizzard's arrival prompted numerous cancellations across the state. Among them.

The Portland International Jetport reported on Twitter that all departures were cancelled for today. It posted a photo on Twitter showing its flight board, saying “It’s one of those days.”
Portland METRO service will be suspended at noon, the transportation agency said, because “to protect the safety of the public and employees.”
University of Southern Maine and the University of New England canceled classes for Tuesday.
Central Maine Power Co. said in a release it has equipment and workers on “heightened alert,” and in place to restore power outages where needed. Emera Maine issued a similar statement.
By mid-morning Tuesday, the Maine Turnpike said the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph from Kittery to Exit 53/Falmouth.
For Wednesday, the Governor’s Conference on Tourism delays start by one hour.
Grand Rounds, a San Francisco-based health care company, cancelled its grand opening event that had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Bates Mill complex in Lewiston. The company said it would be rescheduled to this summer. The site is expected to create 150 to 200 jobs.