Severe Winter Storms

Severe winter weather conditions are typically characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and large quantities of snow. Possible types of winter storms in Maine include:

  • Blizzards: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of thirty five miles per hour; falling or blowing snow with visibility less than a quarter mile for greater than three hours.

  • Ice storms: Rain that freezes upon impact; ice coating at least one-half inch in thickness and is heavy enough to damage trees, overhead wires, and similar objects, and produce widespread power outages.

  • Sleet storms: One half inch or more of frozen rain drops (ice pellets) which bounce when hitting the ground.

  • Snow Storms: Seven inches or more within twelve hours OR ten inches or more within twenty four hours.

The entire State is vulnerable to severe winter storms every winter. During winter months, Maine often has heavy snowfall, or snow combined with high winds, freezing rain or ice storms. The snowfall season usually runs from late October (in the north) or November (most of the rest of the State) to April and sometimes into May. Total seasonal snowfall ranges between 50 and 80 inches on the coast, between 60 to 90 inches in the southern part of the state and 90 to 110-plus inches in the north. Coastal areas are also susceptible to tide surges and flooding when high winds accompany coastal storms.

Notable Winter Storms

  • The Ice Storm of 1998: Beginning Jan 5 and lasting though Jan 25, residents experienced effects from freezing rain, high winds, snow and ice, with over half of the state living without power at its peak. The storm caused over $140 million in damages and a Presidential disaster declaration.

  • The February 2013 Blizzard: Maine received record snowfalls on Friday Feb. 8 through Saturday Feb 9. Gorham had the most amount of snow in the state, reporting 35.5 inches. The storm was particularly hard to overcome with its high winds, historic snowfall and its duration, lasting approximately 36 hours. President Obama approved the state’s request for a Presidential disaster declaration after the storm caused over $3.5 million in damages and response costs in four counties.

Mitigation

The National Weather Service sends out weather advisories which are widely distributed via radio and television. Accurate public information, including recommended actions to prepare for adverse weather conditions continue to be extremely effective in preventing loss of life and minimizing property damages during a storm.

Citizens should keep posted on weather conditions and prepare early for anticipated severe storms. These preparations should include an adequate supply of food, fuel, medical items, battery powered radio, and flashlight. Adequate insulation and winter proofing of homes will also increase comfort during cold weather and storms.

MaineDOT is responsible for removing snow from roads as well as treating the snowy and/or icy roads with salt/chemicals during and after a snow storm. It is important for citizens to stay indoors and off the roads until roadways are clear and safe.

Whenever we get a large snowfall or a lot of snow over time, homeowners, tenants, and business operators should be alert to the danger posed by heavy snow loads on roofs and recognize warning signs of potential structural weaknesses.

Flat and low-pitched roofs, most often found on industrial buildings, but also used in certain home designs, are at the greatest risk of buckling under heavy snow and ice accumulations.

Often the risks can be mitigated by removing snow from roofs of both commercial buildings and homes, but this can also be dangerous. Here are some considerations for deciding whether snow should be removed, and how to remove it safely.

Removing Snow from Roofs

How much snow is too much?

Here are some guidelines from the Insurance Institute on Business and Home Safety. IBHS estimates the typical roof can handle 20 pounds per square foot of additional weight. However, if you have an older home or older roof, especially if you have had problems before, you might want to figure on less than 20 pounds.

  • Fresh snow: 10 to 12 inches of new snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 pounds per square foot of roof space, so you could have up to 4 feet of new snow before the typical roof will become stressed.
  • Packed snow: 3 to 5 inches of old snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 pounds per square foot of roof space, so anything more than 2 feet of old snow could be too much for your roof to handle.
  • Ice: one inch of ice equals one foot of fresh snow or 5 pounds per square foot.

As an example, two feet of old snow and two feet of new snow could weigh as much as 60 lbs per square foot of roof space, which is beyond the typical snow load capacity of most roofs.

Removing snow safely

  • Consider hiring professionals to do the job. The combination of heights plus ice makes this one of the more dangerous house chores. If you choose to do the task yourself, have someone outside with you to assist -- and to remind you not to take dangerous risks.
  • Use a snow rake for pitched roofs (available at most hardware stores) to remove snow from your roof.
  • Remember that any snow that comes down can come down on you, so stand well back and rake small amounts at a time.
  • Start from the edge and work your way up onto the roof with the rake.
  • Try to shave the snow down to 2 or 3 inches on the roof instead of scraping the roof clean, which will risk damage to your shingles or other roof covering.
  • An aluminum rake will conduct electricity. Check where the power lines enter your house, and stay well away from that area while using a roof rake.
  • Remove large icicles carefully if they're hanging over doorways and walkways. A cubic foot of ice weighs about 62 pounds. Consider knocking down icicles through windows using a broom stick.
  • Wear protective headgear and goggles when performing any of these tasks.
  • Keep gutters and drains clean, free of ice and snow and keep downspouts clean at ground level.
  • If you are a business owner and have employees working on snow removal, review OSHA Winter Safety Guidelines.

Things NOT to do:

As a rule, anything that would require getting on to your roof may be too dangerous for anyone except a professional with the proper training and safety gear.

  • SAY NO to climbing on ladders. Ice and snow tend to build up on both the rungs of the ladder and the soles of your boots.
  • SAY NO to using an electric heating device like a hair dryer or heat gun to melt snow or ice. Melting ice makes water, and the mixing of water and electricity is a very bad idea.
  • SAY NO to using an open-flame device to remove snow and ice. An open flame can damage roofs and gutters and even set your house on fire, definitely going from bad to worse.

Some signs that a roof might be stressed

  • Sagging roof sections
  • Severe roof leaks
  • Cracked or split wood members
  • Bends or ripples in supports
  • Cracks in walls or masonry
  • Sheared off screws from steel frames
  • Sprinkler heads that have dropped down below ceiling tiles
  • Doors that pop open
  • Doors or windows that are difficult to open
  • Bowed utility pipes or conduit attached at ceiling
  • Creaking, cracking or popping sounds

If any of these signs are observed, evacuate the building immediately and get the building inspected.

Stranded with your Vehicle

The absolute best way to avoid being stranded with your vehicle is to stay off the roads. Emergency and transportation officials will always ask the public to curtail travel to allow road crews to do their work. Listen to them!

However, sometimes the most careful of us is overcome by events.

At the start of winter, create an emergency kit for your car including flares or reflectors, snacks and blankets.

And here are some tips from the National Safety Council in case you are caught in your vehicle in a winter storm. You'll notice that these tips make use of items from your car emergency kit.

If you become stranded

  • Stay with your vehicle unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help and are certain you will improve your situation

  • To attract attention, light two flares and place one at each end of the vehicle a safe distance away

  • Hang a brightly colored cloth from your antenna

  • If you are sure the vehicle's exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending on the amount of gas in the tank

  • Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia; use woolen items and blankets to keep warm

  • Keep at least one window open slightly as heavy snow and ice can seal a vehicle shut

Preventing Hypothermia

Hypothermia Prevention Information from the Maine CDC

The Problem of Hypothermia

  • With fuel costs high, it is tempting to turn down the thermostat to save fuel. This may put some people at risk for cold body temperature, also known as hypothermia. Cold outdoor temperatures also mean that people who work (or play) outdoors for long periods also could be at risk.
  • About 750 deaths occur due to hypothermia every year in the U.S.
  • An average of 20 Mainers die every year due to hypothermia, including about 3-4 who die in their homes.
  • High risk populations include people who:
    • Are over 60 years of age, who account for more than half of all hypothermia deaths (they do not shiver or constrict peripheral blood vessels as well and have lower metabolic rates)
    • Are infants (babies under 1 year of age)
    • Have hypothyroidism
    • Drink or abuse alcohol (alcohol results in vasodilation, a relaxation of blood vessels causing heat loss)
    • Have a mental illness
    • Are homeless, poor, and/or live alone
    • Take sedative hypnotics (such as benzodiazepines, chloral hydrate, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine=Benadryl)
    • Take neuroleptic medications (also known as antipsychotics, and include phenothiazines, haloperidol, loxapine, clozapine, zyprexa), which induce vasodilation and reduce shivering responses.

What You Can Do to Prevent Hypothermia

  • Dress in layers.
  • Wear a warm hat – 30% of heat loss is through the head.
  • Wear a scarf and gloves.
  • Infants should be in a room in which the temperature is 61-68 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and warm/hot drinks.
  • Eat regular balanced meals to give you energy – good nutrition is important.
  • Keep active when it’s cold, but not to the point where you’re sweating.
  • Keep dry and change out of wet clothes as soon as possible.
  • Cut down on alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, since all three cause heat loss.
  • Try to keep one room in the house warm.
  • Ask your doctor if you are on any medications that affect your ability to maintain a steady body temperature (such as neuroleptic medications and sedative hypnotics).

Symptoms of Hypothermia Include:

  • Decreased consciousness, sleepiness, confusion, and/or disorientation
  • Someone who is mildly hypothermic may not take action to warm themselves
  • Shivering, pale or blue skin, numbness, poor coordination, slurred speech
  • In severe hypothermia, shivering decreases or goes away, and the person becomes unconscious and has very shallow breaths.

Wood Burning and Lung Health

A message from the MaineCDC: Wood Burning and Lung Health: Burn it Smart and Healthy.

The Problem of Wood Burning and Lung Health

  • 1 in 3 Maine households have someone living there with asthma, another chronic lung disease, or chronic heart disease. These are households who more commonly report having trouble heating their homes.
  • Maine has the highest childhood and adult asthma rates in the country. 10% of adults and 12% of children in Maine have asthma.
  • Wood is a renewable source of heat. It has some benefits over non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil.
  • However, smoke from wood burning can cause air pollution and public health problems. It can cause or make worse asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease. It affects children and the elderly more than others.
  • Half of Maine households heat with at least some wood.
  • Maine homes with an asthmatic child are more likely to have difficulty paying for heat and are more likely to be heating with wood.
  • 1 in 3 Maine wood stove owners report their wood stove is over 20 years of age, i.e. older than the EPA cleaner standards.
  • Heating with wood is less prevalent and heating with oil is most prevalent in York and Cumberland. Heating with wood, especially pellets, is most common in Aroostook.
  • 1 in 7 Maine households allow people to smoke tobacco in their home.

What You Can Do To Improve Air Quality For Breathing While Heating With Wood

  • Weatherize your home, such as closing up areas that will let heat escape.
  • Have your chimney, flue, and woodstove inspected and cleaned at least once per year.
  • Use wood pellets. They burn 25-50% cleaner than cord wood.
  • Replace an old woodstove, fireplace, or fireplace insert (built before the late 1980s) with a newer more efficient EPA-certified equipment that uses less wood and burns up to 90% cleaner.
  • If using cord wood, burn hardwoods that are clean, dry, and seasoned (>6 months) because they burn cleaner and are less likely to pollute the air.
  • Never burn garbage, trash, plastics, styrofoam, paints, painted wood, salt water wood, cleaning chemicals such as solvents, charcoal/coal, or treated woods (treated with varnishes, sealants, or pressure-treated). These substances can result in toxins being burned and released into the air.
  • Burn small hot fires. They produce less smoke than those that are left to smolder.
  • Split wood into 4-6 inch pieces. Fires burn cleaner with more surface area exposed to the flame.
  • Keep your home tobacco smoke free.