By this point in winter, we should all know better than to let our guards down. But a fast-moving snow squall Thursday night led to whiteout conditions and sent dozens of cars off area roads and highways.

It started in some areas shortly after 7 p.m. By 8:30 p.m., a Maine State Police dispatcher said they were responding to “about a zillion” minor car wrecks.

He later modified that number and said there were at least two dozen calls of vehicles off the road. The problem appeared to be heavy snow limiting visibility and black ice developing as temperatures dropped.

Weather officials said the squall was moving through the state with a blast of cold air right behind it. The result was cold, white chaos.

In certain spots, anyway.

State Police said the biggest issues appeared to be from Kittery to Falmouth, with cars off the roads even farther north along the Maine Turnpike.

There were reports of whiteout conditions in Bethel, although an Oxford County police dispatcher said there were very few reports of cars slipping and sliding.

Same in Androscoggin County. By 8:30 p.m., a dispatcher glanced at his screen and said there was not a single report of a crash or a vehicle off the road.

In the Twin Cities, the heaviest snow began to fall at about 8 p.m, and within a half-hour, there was nearly an inch on the ground. In spite of that, police reported few accidents there, as well.

In Lewiston, police responded to three cars reported off the road. By then, the squall was mostly over. Lt. Mark Watson said Public Works had a full crew on and they were out sanding the roads.

The forecast calls for less snow, more cold in coming days. Predictions are for cold air with high winds that could drop temperatures to below freezing.

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