Power knocked out across Midcoast, coastal, inland Maine as storm downs trees and wires
It is rare for the surf to kick up so high on Penobscot Bay, as it did Dec. 18, off of Rockport. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Linemen stage in a parking lot at the intersection of Route 17 and 220 in Washington. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Passing vehicles kick up water at a wet intersection in Union. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Washington. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
At 2 p.m., Washington FD was asked to close Route 17 Westbound at the town line with Somerville while Somerville dealt with a single-vehicle car crash at a bend in the road. Washington FD was relieved of their duty within 20 minutes when Somerville was able to reopen one lane. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
It is rare for the surf to kick up so high on Penobscot Bay, as it did Dec. 18, off of Rockport. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Linemen stage in a parking lot at the intersection of Route 17 and 220 in Washington. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Passing vehicles kick up water at a wet intersection in Union. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Washington. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
At 2 p.m., Washington FD was asked to close Route 17 Westbound at the town line with Somerville while Somerville dealt with a single-vehicle car crash at a bend in the road. Washington FD was relieved of their duty within 20 minutes when Somerville was able to reopen one lane. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
As of 3:30 p.m., Dec. 18, approximately half of Central Maine Power customers were without electricity, as gale force winds that approach hurricane force with gusts, rip through the state. Trees have fallen on wires, some catching fire, others sprawling across roads, closing roads.
In Knox County, 4,743 out of 26,691 customers were without power; in Lincoln County, 15,066 out of 28,568 were without; and in Waldo County, 13,549 out of 26,130 customers were in the dark.
The sound of generators is filling the region, in between the roaring wind gusts.
Hard hit counties have been Androscoggin, Franklin and Kennebec counties, followed by Cumberland and York. Hancock County is getting harsh winds, and in Kennebec County, 67,057 customers out of a total of 74,365 customers are without power.
Fire departments are out in force clearing trees from roadways, or tending to flooded basements.
High wind warnings remain in effect until 1 a.m., Tuesday. Hazardous weather warnings include coastal flooding, as well.
Storm surge of two to three feet and large nearshore waves of 15 to 20 feet are anticipated.
As of 7 p.m., Dec. 18, the damage from today’s wind and rainstorm exceeds that of the 2022 Christmas storm, said CMP. The following CMP outages were reported:
| County | Total Customers by County | Customers Without Power |
|---|---|---|
| ANDROSCOGGIN | 58,453 | 35,884 |
| CUMBERLAND | 176,694 | 63,582 |
| FRANKLIN | 24,260 | 9,799 |
| HANCOCK | 6,415 | 4,665 |
| KENNEBEC | 74,365 | 67,308 |
| KNOX | 26,691 | 9,005 |
| LINCOLN | 28,568 | 16,853 |
| OXFORD | 42,702 | 20,249 |
| PENOBSCOT | 14,995 | 11,197 |
| PISCATAQUIS | 10,239 | 2,557 |
| SAGADAHOC | 22,466 | 17,117 |
| SOMERSET | 31,273 | 24,971 |
| WALDO | 26,130 | 14,645 |
| YORK | 128,369 | 43,853 |
| Total | 673,950 | 341,685 |
