Sat, 02/13/2016 - 8:15pm

Lynda Clancy

Vinalhaven received almost two feet of fresh snow in less than 24 hours. No one was injured when this plow truck went off the road. (Photo courtesy Knox County EMA)

Rockport Public Works Director Mike Young, at noon on Feb. 13, and after a long night of plowing for the entire Rockport crew. The afternoon stretched out in front of him for another stretch of keeping the roads cleared. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Vinalhaven’s snow. (Photo courtesy Knox County EMA)

Downtown Camden, Feb. 13. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Rockport plow truck tends to business. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Vinalhaven received almost two feet of fresh snow in less than 24 hours. No one was injured when this plow truck went off the road. (Photo courtesy Knox County EMA)

Vinalhaven’s snow. (Photo courtesy Knox County EMA)

Downtown Camden, Feb. 13. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Rockport plow truck tends to business. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

The inverted trough in the atmosphere strengthened with energy through Saturday, Feb. 13, and with it, portions of Penobscot Bay got swamped with snow. The localized storm affected just a small area of the Maine coast, but it packed a punch all day, as snow plow drivers hustled to keep up with it.

Knox County Emergency Management Agency Director Ray Sisk reported that by 7 p.m., the snow had stopped falling regionwide, but clean-up continued.

Island EMA Directors checking in with some snow numbers, he wrote in an update: “Chief Marc Candage from Vinalhaven, with 22 inches, Eva Murray of Matinicus with 25. Marc sent the two photos attached by email (no plow drivers were injured in the filming of the truck off the road!).”

The snow resulted from an inverted trough, which flared up throughout the day, said National Weather Service meteorologists. The trough was created by the approach of an arctic front that butted up against a low level system to the south. The two battled it out over the immediate Midcoast region of Camden, Rockport and Rockland, and out to Vinalhaven, North Haven and Matinicus.

Rockland was reporting a foot by the end of Saturday, with similar amounts in Camden and Rockport, where road crews worked nonstop. Rockport crews started at 11 p.m., Friday night, as an initial 3 inches quickly fell in a short hour.

It was a dry snow, but roads were slick and heavy with snow. With its departure, the incoming arctic blast of frigid air has arrived.

Skiers at the Camden Snow Bowl were ecstatic on Saturday, with fresh powder filling the trails, which had been dirt-brown just two weeks ago.

Forecast

Tonight

Snow likely before 10pm, then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 10pm and 5am. Cloudy, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -19. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny and cold, with a high near 9. Wind chill values as low as -17. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night

Clear, with a low around -2. Wind chill values as low as -11. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Washington's Birthday

A 30 percent chance of snow after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -13. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Snow, mainly after 8pm. Low around 28. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday

Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 8am. High near 45. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night

Showers. Low around 33. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday

Snow showers, possibly mixed with rain before 7am, then a chance of rain showers. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 13.