was present in the lower levels of the atmosphere to produce a significant freezing-rain and sleet
event in central portions of the state, and heavy snow in the north. High winds toppled trees and
limbs onto power lines in southwestern Maine causing power outages in York, Kittery, and Eliot
Counties affecting some 5000 customers. A downed tree on Route 236 in Berwick caused traffic
problems. An unusually high tide in conjunction with this storm knocked a house off its pilings
and onto the beach at 7 Eastern Avenue in the Camp Ellis section of Saco. The house was valued
at 5,500 per tax records. The extent of this damage was not reported. Moreover, this late
winter storm forced the state government to advise 12,000 state employees to stay at home until
noon because of ice on the roads. Therefore, for half of a day, the state government was shut
down and some state courts were disrupted. Also, numerous schools were closed due to danger-
ous road conditions. Some of the schools closed on the 5th as well--school official couldn't
recall any school closures for two days in a row because of a winter storm since the big blizzard
of 1969.
3/4/91
PAZ001 Erie, Lakeshore PAZ002 Northwestern Portion PAZ003 Western Portion (Ice Storm)--
Ice-coated power lines and branches with ice 1 in. thick caused a total of 40,000 people to lose
power in northwestern Pennsylvania.
66
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