Forecast | Storm Closings| Video

Winter finally made an appearance in Maine on Monday with a treacherous mix of precipitation that caused messy travel conditions and brought some relief to snow-starved regions of the state.

The National Weather Service issued weather advisories and warnings across the state for snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain on the Martin Luther King Day holiday.

The weather caused numerous closures of businesses, day care centers and schools, and towns implemented parking bans. But the impact was minimized because most government offices and schools, and many businesses, were already closed in remembrance of the slain civil rights leader.

State police said there were a number of accidents on highways and back roads slickened by sleet and freezing rain, but no serious injuries were reported. Plow and sand trucks were out in force, and the speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was reduced to 45 mph.

Snow was falling across Maine during the day, while southern areas were getting a mix of sleet and snow. By mid-afternoon, Rangeley and New Portland had received 6 inches, Orono and Rumford had gotten 5 inches, and 3 inches were on the ground in Greenville.

The heaviest snowfalls were predicted for western and northern Maine, where the weather service was calling for up to 12 inches before the storm was expected to wind down on Tuesday morning.

The storm by itself wasn't exceptional, but it provided a stark contrast to recent weeks, when temperatures have been far above normal and the ground has been bare because of a lack of snow. The unseasonable weather has drawn out golfers and bicyclists this month.

Forecasters are calling for frigid conditions the next few days, with high temperatures not even breaking 20 degrees anywhere in the state on Wednesday.

SNOW/ICE STORM


Snow changed over to ice west of Portland.
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ENOUGH FOR SLEDDING


The Almeida family takes advantage of Monday's snow as soon as they can.
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