Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Maine, January 24 to 25, 1998

Low pressure that developed off the southern New England Coast combined with an area of low pressure moving eastward from the Ohio River Valley to bring a mixture of precipitation to the state. Heavy snow was followed by sleet and freezing rain in most sections of the state, and rain in coastal and downeast sections. The freezing rain which began Friday night persisted in some areas into Saturday night. More than 75,000 customers (an estimated 170,000 people) lost electrical service during the storm as ice-laden trees and branches fell onto power lines, mostly in York and Cumberland Counties. Some of the power outages lasted several days. This storm came as power restoration efforts from the January 5-9 storm were nearing completion. Less than 1000 customers from the January 5-9 storm remained without power when the new storm hit. The most significant damage from the storm occurred in York and coastal Cumberland Counties, however freezing rain and extremely slippery conditions were reported throughout the state. An elderly couple in East Sullivan apparently died from hypothermia and/or heart failure when their car became stuck on their slippery driveway, and they were unable to make it safely back to their home.