Maine Storm Leaves Over 480K Homes, Businesses Without Power

AUGUSTA, ME — A storm ripped across the Northeast overnight and left more than 480,000 Maine homes without power Monday afternoon, surpassing the peak number from an infamous 1998 ice storm. More than 1.5 million customers had no power throughout the region.

The state's largest utility, Central Maine Power, said its 391,000 outages surpassed the peak of 345,000 homes and businesses without power during the ice storm. Two hundred crews are working and more are on the way from other states, CMP spokesman John Carroll said. It could take a week to restore power, customers were warned.

The Portland International Jetport recorded a peak wind gust of 69 mph.

The winds knocked down trees and power lines in several states, forcing scores of schools to close.

Watch: Maine Family Rides Out Rough Storm

The hardest hit counties were York, Cumberland, Kennebec, and Androscoggin, Central Maine Power said Monday.

Some stoplights weren't operational and some streets were flooded. The Amtrak Downeaster service canceled a morning run due to downed trees on the tracks.

By The Associated Press

Photo credit: Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press