Tracking Snowfall and Maine School Closings: What’s Changed After the Latest Burst of Wintry Weather

Maine has seen a fresh round of light snow to start the week, adding to early-December totals and prompting spotty school delays and operational tweaks in a handful of districts. While this event was far less disruptive than last week’s storm, it still brought a few inches to parts of the interior and a glaze to the coast, keeping plow crews and school administrators on alert.

Snowfall tracking across Maine

A quick look at the latest measured totals shows a sharp gradient from the higher-elevation interior to the coast. Interior towns reported several inches, while coastal communities saw a coating to around an inch where warmer air mixed in.

Selected snowfall reports (latest event):

• Rockwood — 4.5"

• Brighton Plantation — 2.9"

• Palmyra — 2.1"

• North New Portland — 2.0"

• Anson — 1.5"

What this means on the roads: interior secondaries can remain slick long after main arterials are cleared, especially overnight when temperatures dip below freezing. Along the coast, a slushy coating may refreeze into black ice at daybreak, particularly on bridges and untreated side streets.

Maine school closings and delays: where things stand

Unlike last week’s broad wave of closures, the newest snow has produced a patchwork of responses. Many districts operated on time, while a smaller number implemented two-hour delays or limited bus routes in outlying areas where hilltops and back roads held onto the snowpack. University and community college campuses in southern Maine generally remained open, but individual classes or services shifted online during the early morning window in some cases.

How districts are deciding today:

• Road conditions before 5–6 a.m. remain the key trigger, with transportation directors driving test routes for traction and visibility.

• Staffing and bus availability can tip the scale toward a delay if road shoulders are narrowed or refreeze is widespread.

• Facilities readiness—cleared lots, treated walkways, and roof-drain icing—determines whether a full opening or a short delay is safest.

If your family relies on school-provided meals, note that traditional “snow day” closures do not include meal service. Districts plan to use a few conventional snow days early in the season and pivot to remote learning if closures stack up later in winter. Parents should keep device chargers, logins, and learning packets handy in case a closure is upgraded to remote instruction on short notice.

Portland and southern Maine: lighter totals, lingering slick spots

In the Portland area and along much of the southwest coast, snow amounts were modest with a quick transition toward mixed precipitation or drizzle. Travel impacts centered on the first few morning hours when surface temperatures hovered near freezing. Expect secondary roads and neighborhoods that sit in shaded spots to hold onto icy patches into the late morning, especially where mid-day sun is limited.

Parking bans and plow priorities: Some communities adopt evening or overnight parking restrictions even for lighter events to widen plow lanes and reduce snowbanks at intersections. Keep an eye on municipal alerts—bans can be called with just a few inches if timing overlaps with the commute or if refreeze is expected.

What’s next for the week

Signals for the midweek period favor colder, drier air behind the disturbance, with daytime highs struggling in the 30s inland and wind gusts occasionally making it feel a few degrees cooler. That favors ongoing refreeze each evening, especially on less-traveled roads, sidewalks, and campus paths. Late-week guidance hints at another weak clipper-type system brushing northern and central zones; confidence on track and totals is lower at this lead time. Recent updates indicate light snow is most likely for the interior, with the coast leaning toward flurries or a rain/snow mix if the track stays north. Details may evolve.

Quick checklist for families and commuters

• Set early alarms for potential delays; decisions often post before 6 a.m.

• Check official district channels (robocall/text/app/email) and municipal alerts for parking bans.

• Budget extra braking distance on untreated secondaries and hills—black ice remains the week’s main hazard.

• Watch afternoon refreeze on walkways and curbs; a sunny lull does not eliminate evening slick spots.

• Keep remote-learning gear handy in case traditional snow days are exhausted later this winter.

Maine’s latest snowfall was a lighter, interior-focused event that still produced localized slick travel and a smattering of school delays. Portland and the coastal strip saw much less accumulation but continue to battle refreeze during the morning and evening windows. Expect colder, quieter weather in the short term, with another chance for light snow brushing parts of the state later this week. As always, conditions and school operations can change quickly—monitor your district and town alerts for the most current updates.