GRAY (AP) – A second winter storm in just over a week threatened to leave Maine under a fresh blanket of as much as 2 feet of snow before easing up Monday, forecasters said.

The latest storm looked like a close cousin of the northeaster that hit the region the previous weekend. Snow was already falling by early evening in the Lewiston area. Forecasters expected the snow to be followed by strong wind and then rain in some areas later in the week.

The speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was dropped to 45 mph by 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Maine State Police. Roughly a dozen cars had slid off the highway, but no major accidents were reported by that hour, police said.

In the outskirts of Lewiston and Auburn, several cars off the road were reported by passing motorists. It was unknown whether or not the occupants were injured.

The storm had entered southern and western Maine in the afternoon.

The early dose of serious winter weather was making cash registers sing in retail stores that sell shovels, salt and other snow-removal products.

At the Aubichon hardware store in Old Town, the earlier storm brought record sales last weekend and is expected to do the same this time around, said Doug Thompson, assistant manager.

“We’re low on snow shovels,” Thompson said Sunday, adding it was “touch and go” whether the store would be able to meet demand after this storm.

Mainers who head outdoors after the storm may find that the sleet and freezing rain accompanying it in some areas will make snow removal difficult.

The storm was expected to hit southern and central Maine on Sunday evening before moving north through the state, where accumulations in the 16-20 inch range are expected, the National Weather Service said.

Snow totals in the Jackman area could range from 1-2 feet, and 10-20 inches are expected in Rumford, where the total from last week’s storm was 30 inches.

The Lewiston-Augusta area is expected to see as much as a foot of snow from the latest storm. Accumulations along the coast, including Portland, are expected to be smaller, in the 4-8 inch range.

In anticipation of the storm, Portland issued a citywide parking ban effective 10 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday.

The latest storm is expected to be followed by rain later in the week, the weather service said. Rain is expected to start in some areas Wednesday and continue Thursday.

AP-ES-12-14-03 1920EST