Cold in Maine, January 14 to 15, 1998

The arctic air behind a cold front that passed through the state on Tuesday, the 13th, brought very cold temperatures to Maine from early Wednesday morning through Thursday morning. The cold temperatures further aggravated the emergency conditions caused by the previous week's ice storm. More than 100,000 customers, an estimated 230,000 people remained without power Wednesday morning. Temperatures Wednesday morning had dropped to near zero in the north and mountains, to the single digits over most of the central Maine, and to the teens over southwestern Maine. During the day Wednesday, with strong, gusty winds, temperatures warmed only to the single digits in the north and mountains, and only to the teens over most of the remainder of the state. Minimum temperatures Thursday morning dropped well below zero in the north and mountains (Alagash reported -26 degrees F), and to the single digits over the remainder of the state. These cold temperatures increased the threat of damage to homes without power and/or heat due to the potential for burst water pipes and caused some to move from their homes to emergency shelters.