LEWISTON — As Washington, D.C., got hammered with snow this week, frozen grass made a comeback in parts of Maine.

Records show Portland has received 33.9 inches of snow so far this winter — 9 inches below normal, National Weather Service meteorologist James Brown said. 

Days since the last snowfall? Twenty-four. 

That’s not normal, Brown said. “Usually, we have a storm.”

The lack of snow caused the city of Portland to cancel much of this weekend’s winter festival. And Pineland Farms in New Gloucester was forced to close its cross-country ski trails.

“I think I jinxed it,” said Rick Harbison, who works in Pineland’s ski shop. Last month he told a Portland Press Herald reporter how great the conditions were. Then came the rain.
Then, nothing.

At Lost Valley Ski Resort in Auburn, the lack of natural snow has kept some skiers away, co-owner Connie King said.

“Before the rain, we had one of the busiest seasons ever,” she said. “It was fabulous. We had beautiful snow. Great conditions. It was crazy busy all the time. Then the rain hit.”

Since then, the cold has provided good conditions for snow-making, she said. “We have a ton of it, but it’s that backyard syndrome.” (If there’s no snow on their backyards, people don’t go to the slopes.)

Not everyone is lamenting the snow drought.

Towns and cities are saving money by not having to plow.

“If you have an outdoor rink, it’s heaven,” said Steve Bannister, director of the Lewiston Area Youth Hockey Lion’s Tournament. “It’s cold and there’s no snow to shovel.”

It’s also easier to walk and drive. 

“The elder people really are thankful it is clear like this,” said Arlene Friis of Poland, who works at SeniorsPlus in Lewiston. “It’s a whole lot easier to do shopping, for them to come and see us.” She recalled recent winters when it snowed until April. “This is much better.”

Another plus is that schools haven’t had many cancellations. Schools in Lewiston and Auburn have used only one snow day, said Auburn Superintendent Tom Morrill. Few snow days mean a longer summer vacation.

“But it’s too early to declare victory over snow,” Morrill cautioned. “Winter is not over.”

Meteorologist Brown agreed. From where he sits, the next chance of snow is Monday night and Tuesday.

But that forecast could change, he said.

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