Temperatures are expected to be a little higher today and this weekend.
By Clarke Canfield
Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND – The arctic cold kept its icy grip on Maine and New England for a second day Thursday, forcing ski areas to shut down, providing a boon for travel agents and keeping criminals off the street.

Temperatures in Maine fell to as low as minus 31 in the morning hours – with wind chills bottoming out at minus 54 – and weren’t expected to break into double digits anywhere in the state for the day.

Forecasters were calling for wind chills of minus 20 to minus 55 across the state Thursday night and into Friday before temperatures start to moderate. When that happens, it will bring to an end a deep freeze during which many places haven’t reached zero for several days.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Hawley said he’s never seen such a prolonged cold spell.

“It’s been quite amazing,” he said.

The cold has forced schools to close, kept people inside and prompted warnings about the dangers of the cold.

Portland Police Chief Michael Chitwood said the prolonged cold caused a drop in crime, with fewer reports of car break-ins, robberies and street crimes.

“I often tell people my best ally is the cold weather,” Chitwood said. “It’s worth about an extra six officers in the field keeping crime down.”

Travel agents reported an increase in calls about trips south. Pam Hurley Moser, owner of Hurley Travel Experts, said people are seeking out “warmth-guaranteed” destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean.

The message from customers, she said, is unmistakable: “Take me somewhere warm.”

The cold was so severe that several ski areas shut down.

Big Rock ski resort in Mars Hill closed down for a second straight day Thursday because of the cold and wind. General manager Tim Prather said it was minus 12 at noon, which felt like 37 below zero with the wind.

“That’s pretty brutal when you’re going up a lift,” Prather said.

Mt. Abram in Greenwood, Big Squaw Mountain Resort in Greenville and Lonesome Pine Trails in Ft. Kent also shut down Thursday because of the extreme cold. Laura Folsom of Big Squaw Mountain said even in Greenville – one of the coldest places in Maine – Thursday’s daytime minus 21 temperature was too cold to ski.

The cold has taken its toll on people’s water pipes.

Richard Waltz Jr., owner of Richard Waltz Plumbing and Heating, said his employees have responded to hundreds of calls since he started keeping his offices open 24 hours a day since last Friday.

He said his mechanics have been thawing pipes and fixing burst pipes and water mains around the clock.

“It’s been like a hospital here,” he said. “We’re triaging.”

Waltz said some people have called his company a second time after his mechanics have fixed their pipes.

“These people don’t want to turn on their heat,” Waltz said. “And it only costs $3 or $4 a day.”

On Thursday, the low for the state was 31 below at a place known as Ninemile Bridge in Township 12, Range 15. It was 27 below zero in Clayton Lake and Eustis, minus 25 in Allagash and Rangeley, and minus 23 in Frenchville, according to the weather service.

The cold prompted Gov. John Baldacci to issue an emergency proclamation to waive federal rules to ensure that fuel oil delivery drivers could work additional hours to make sure no one went cold for lack of oil.

AAA Northern New England, the emergency road assistance agency for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, received thousands of calls Thursday, but at a slower rate than on Wednesday, when a record 6,088 calls for assistance were received.

That number broke the previous record of 5,025 calls set last Friday, spokesman Matt McKenzie said.

AP-ES-01-15-04 1518EST