Amber Vallee pushes water down Walnut Street in Lewiston on Saturday morning after snow turned to rain during another storm of mixed precipitation. “I wish it was all snow,” Vallee says. “I’m tired of this slush that will turn into ice at the bottom of our driveway.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

While western Maine took enough snow and rain to slow traffic down, it was nothing compared to the thrashing southern and coastal Maine took between winds, rain and extreme tides.

Many coastal towns saw the destruction of waterfront homes and structures, several water rescues, flooded roads and motor vehicle accidents. Towns like Portland, Biddeford, Wells, Kennebunkport and Old Orchard Beach were among the several affected areas.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory at 11:46 a.m. for a fast-moving system through northern Oxford and Franklin counties and for central Somerset County. The advisory called for 4-8 inches of heavy snow and gusts of 35 mph until 4 p.m.

Michael Cempa, NWS forecaster, said snowfall reports for most of the state were sparse due to the rains that came in behind the snow.

The latest published reports statewide were at 10:13 a.m. in Winslow and 10 a.m. in Livermore Falls and Belfast. Snowfall amounts were 2.3 inches, 3 inches and half an inch respectively.

Cempa said around 11:15 a.m. that Brownfield reported 4 inches; Lovell, 3.7; Otisfield, 3.6; and Bridgton, 3 inches. Livermore Falls at that time reported no changes.

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Rainfall amounts for western Maine were also not as significant as southern Maine. The NWS forecast for Saturday had the twin cities down for less than a tenth of an inch of rain through the afternoon.

A family navigates through snow and puddles Saturday morning in downtown Lewiston. They are carrying clean laundry back to their home after visiting a neighborhood laundromat during a downpour. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Cempa did not have Lewiston-Auburn rainfall amounts at hand, but said central Maine numbers were consistent with western Maine areas, Manchester and Augusta reporting amounts in the half-inch range. Durham, the southernmost tip of Androscoggin County and closest to the coast, reported 1.33 inches midday.

“The bigger amounts were further south and east, and closer to the coast,” Cempa said, adding that brief heavier rains were possible as a colder front moved in. “The actual much colder air is coming in tomorrow and we may see some snow squalls (move through) during the day tomorrow.”

Flood warnings and watches ended for the most affected areas around 2 p.m. Portland saw around 2.3 inches of rain ponding highly traveled areas on Franklin Street.

Scarborough saw 2.16 inches; Kennebunk, 2.05; Kittery, 1.96; Arundel, 1.89; and Brunswick and Buxton reported 1.73 and 1.42 inches respectively.

Hazardous weather was not expected for Saturday afternoon and evening, according to an NWS update at 3:51 p.m., but Mainers could expect quickly degrading travel conditions with poor visibility and slick roads in addition to the squalls.

Portland Press Herald Staff Writers Rachel Ohm and Bonnie Washuk contributed to this report.

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