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FORT KENT, Maine-It’s official. The 2007-08 snow season in northern Maine is one for the record books. Just in time for the start of spring.The old record of 181.1 inches of snow recorded in Caribou, set in 1955, was shattered by noontime Friday when the National Weather Service in Caribou recorded 182.5 inches of snow since the start of the season.It didn’t stop there.Heavy snow and winds gusting up to 50 mph continued throughout the day, creating blizzard conditions around much of northern Maine and causing numerous vehicle accidents and headaches for municipalities already overextended with snow removal budgets.By Friday afternoon close to 15 inches of snow had fallen in central Aroostook County and a blizzard warning was still in effect from the National Weather Service. The St. John Valley saw about a foot of new snow, while southern portions of the county got around 7 inches.A couple of more inches of snow were expected to accumulate through Friday, though total accumulations would vary widely, the weather service said.Near-blizzard conditions were also reported above 1,500 feet in the state’s western mountains.A combination of vehicle accidents and heavy snow forced the closing of several major northern Maine roads.A dispatcher at the Maine State Police barracks in Houlton said Friday evening that she was unaware of any major injuries related to the storm, and said that most of the reports that state police responded to were minor weather-related incidents.Route 1A between Fort Fairfield and Limestone was closed for the better part of the afternoon because of blowing snow. Roads were also closed in Limestone, Caribou, Stockholm and New Sweden, including portions of Route 161.A freight train was reported stuck in a snowdrift along the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway Line in Grand Isle.Accidents forced the shutdown of parts of Route 1 in Connor and Bridgewater, and reduced a portion of Route 11 in Patten to one lane. Parts of Route 11 reportedly were closed for short periods because of accidents. No serious injuries were reported.Just after noon Friday the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department issued an "emergency travel only" request.Snow drifts ranged from about 5 feet to 10 feet in some areas, said meteorologist Mark Bloomer. Drifts along the sides of northern Maine roads, already several feet high, were even higher with the latest storm."The snow drifts that come over the top pile up on the lower side in the street," said Bloomer. "It’s going to be a lot of work for the plows."Three months into the new year, Caribou’s public works department has already expended 92 percent of its overtime and 55 percent of the annual fuel budget, according to City Manager Steve Buck."If you’re going to set a record, perhaps the bragging rights will offset the fiscal impact," Buck said."I do have to commend our public works department," he said. "They are second to none and these guys are exhausted."
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