LEWISTON – According to the calendar, it’s over Friday. At 7:44 a.m., the planet will tilt just enough to declare winter over and spring begun.

By Thursday night, 101.3 inches of snow had fallen since the start of the mean season. That’s a full 2 feet less than the year before.

What could possibly go wrong now?

“I would not be comfortable declaring it over,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Hayes. “Not until it’s the second or third week of April, anyway. But the forecast right now looks pretty tranquil. The bulk of the cold and snow, it’s probably done.”

So far, so good. Not that anyone was letting his guard down.

“I think Mother Nature has one more storm in store for us,” said Jay Dufour. “I hope not, but let’s be realistic.”

Dufour was waiting in line at the Dairy Joy on Sabattus Street. He was wearing a sweatshirt and sneakers, as were his wife and two sons. None of those heavy boots and snowmobile suits we’ve all donned since late November. It was 42 degrees and sunny at suppertime.

“The sidewalks are clear and it stays lighter longer,” Dufour said. “We walked over here to get some exercise.”

He probably didn’t do that in 2008. By the first day of spring last year, more than 125 inches of snow had fallen. That winter was marked by big and frequent storms. Snow came more often and stayed longer.

This year, our most significant snow came early on – 16 inches fell during a storm on the very first day of winter. Storms that dumped 14 or 15 inches came later.

“When we got snow, we got a lot of it,” Hayes said.

But it was more sporadic. Several weeks passed during some stretches without any major snowfall. The result was a winter that felt long but which saw less snow. Better for most of us, not so much if you happen to make your living measuring precipitation.

“A meteorologist doesn’t see it that way,” Hayes said. “We think more is better.”

Not that snow enthusiasts should be bummed out – as snowfall totals go, Maine this year still got 18 inches above the average amount. February and March were marked by above-average temperatures while January was colder than usual.

Fairly standard stuff. No reason to worry much if you happen to be taking your family out for ice cream on the last day of winter. If there is more snow in our future, how bad could it get?

“If we get hit again, at least it will be a fast melter,” Dufour said.

Sure it will. Just like in 2007, when Mainers, lulled by an easy March, found themselves in April contending with 27 inches that fell in a month most known for the emergence of spring.

Could it happen again?

“Don’t rule anything out,” Hayes said.