For updates from the National Weather Service, visit www.weather.gov.

Parking bans

Auburn

Starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, until noon Thursday, Jan. 29, the city of Auburn has issued a parking ban on all roads. Any vehicles parked in violation of the ban will be towed immediately.

Lewiston

Starting at noon Wednesday and continuing until 3 p.m. Thursday, the city has issued a parking ban for all streets in anticipation of a storm Wednesday. Vehicles parked in violation will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Locals prepare for major storm

Residents, businesses and schools prepared Tuesday for a Nor’easter expected to bring 8 to 10 inches of snow to the area on Wednesday.

Due to begin at sunrise in the southern part of the state, the snow is expected to last until early Thursday morning, with the heaviest amounts coming in the afternoon and evening, according to a winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service in Gray.

“This could be one of the better storms,” said Butch Roberts, hydro-meteorological technician for the National Weather Service. “There will be some wind, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be anything blizzard-like right now.”

Temperatures are expected to be in the 20s inland and closer to the freezing mark near the coast.

Students were banking on a day off, people were hurrying to ready their snowblowers or pick up another shovel or two – and stocking up on essential groceries.

Sarah McElhaney, a manager of Hannaford supermarket on Spring Street in Auburn, said there’s always a rush the day before a storm. Water is the most common purchase, though prepared foods also make a frequent appearance at the checkout counter.

“People just want to get in and out, and stay home tomorrow – that’s their goal,” McElhaney said. “Some people who normally shop on a Wednesday, and it’s supposed to snow, will come in on Tuesday instead.”

Sue Greeley of Auburn made a stop at Hannaford to stock up on prepared foods in case of a power outage.

“I try to keep something like this stuff at home, just in case,” Greeley said.

Not everyone was shopping for food, though. Amy Bergen of Auburn said her storm list included hay for the rabbits and gas for the generator. Bergen, who heats with wood, will be busy much of the night lugging in enough to avoid going outside in the snow.

Shovels and food are in demand at Wal-Mart before most storms. Melissa Pelletier, customer service manager, said she expected it to get busy as the night went on.

“It’s usually pretty busy before a storm,” Pelletier said. “People don’t usually like to drive in bad weather.”

Roberts said the weather for the rest of the week should be mild with temperatures in the mid to upper 20s.

For updates from the National Weather Service, visit www.weather.gov.