PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The streets of Maine’s largest city are deserted and most people are staying home as schools and offices across Portland and the state are closed while people hunker down to weather the latest snow storm.

Scarborough pharmacist Joe Lorello says winter storms seem to get more hype as the years go by.

He says his kids knew Tuesday night there wouldn’t be school on Wednesday.

But officials are having to deal with the practical implications of yet another dump of snow. Portland downtown snow-storage area is expected to reach capacity after the storm, the first time that’s happened in three years

Meanwhile, some people are looking for ways to avoid cabin fever. A snowball fight is being organized for Wednesday afternoon in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park.

Gov. Paul LePage’s office announced state offices were closing at noon and local district and superior courts were also closed Wednesday.

Open for certain on Wednesday were the state’s ski and snowboarding resorts.

In Newry Sunday River’s spokeperson, Darcy Morse, said they were elated to have the new snow.

“If Mother Nature’s version of Groundhog Day means over a foot of new snow to ski and ride in, we’ll take it,” Morse said.

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