Area preparing for a prewinter wallop

It's not winter for almost a month, but it will sure look like it later today as a fast-moving moisture-drenched storm rolls through the area.

As always, Rochester, Milton and Lebanon are on the cusp of snow accumulation amounts. Right now predictions are for 8-12 inches to the north of that line and 3-6 inches on the southern side.

Snow should start sometime late this morning or around noon, meteorologists say, so if you need batteries, candles or other storm supplies it's a good time to get them as of this posting.

Rain and heavy snow is expected to cause major disruptions and delays for Thanksgiving travel on the East Coast and in the Appalachians.

According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "In most cases, the worst time to travel in the mid-Atlantic and New England due to the storm will be on Wednesday and Wednesday night."

Rain will initially spread northward along the Interstate-95 with snow and rain to start farther west in the I-81 corridor. However, a change to snow will take place from west to east from northern Virginia to New England.

In anticipation of delays or cancellations, several airlines, including US Airways, American and Delta, have announced they will waive change fees for passengers scheduled to fly into airports in the line of the storm.

"The storm should rapidly strengthen off the coast of New England on Wednesday night, leading to strong and gusty winds, especially near the coast," stated AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Ben Noll as he discussed the impacts in this storm scenario.

Problems due to blowing and drifting snow will be the greatest in northern and western New England.

While rain will fall initially, especially at the coast, this will be mostly a snow event in the northern Seacoast area.

In Portland, a mix of rain, sleet and snow will start at midday on Wednesday will change to all snow and continue through Wednesday night. The worst conditions will be from late Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night. Roads will become snow-covered and slippery.

Meanwhile, Central Maine Power Company officials say they are prepared for today's storm and have finalized storm-response plans.

"We've put our storm response plan into motion, and we're watching the forecast closely," said Gail Rice, spokesperson for Central Maine Power on Tuesday. "This storm could cause considerable buildup of snow on roadways, tree limbs, and power lines. This could result in power interruptions and difficult travel, so we're getting crews, equipment, and materials in place to respond."

The utility is checking the availability of contract crews to assist local crews if the storm causes widespread damage. CMP is also keeping the Maine Emergency Management Agency informed on preparation efforts.

If outages occur, CMP urges customers to call the toll-free outage hotline: 1.800.696.1000.

CMP offers customers the following tips to prepare for the storm and stay safe and comfortable if power outages do occur.

Before a storm strikes:

• Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and non-perishable foods.
• Make sure that smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices are fully charged.
• Fill your car's fuel tank.

During a power interruption:

• To report a power interruption, contact CMP at 1.800.696.1000. Our telephone system automatically creates a work order and sets the stage for dispatch of crews to the outage location.
• When using an emergency heating source, like a wood stove, fireplace, or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly.
• Never use grills or camp stoves indoors -- they can give off dangerous gases.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours or longer if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

For customers with generators:

• Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.
• Make sure portable generators are properly grounded.
• Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator's operating manual.
• Never run a generator indoors, or even in an open garage.
• Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it's running.

The company urges customers to use caution if they see downed lines.

"Everyone should stay clear of any downed power lines or fallen trees that may be tangled in the lines," said Rice. "All downed lines should be considered live and dangerous. Customers should leave the clean-up to our crews, who are trained and equipped to handle these situations safely."

CMP also reminds drivers to use caution when approaching utility crews. The working conditions are difficult, and the workers appreciate everyone's consideration for their safety.

Additional information on storm safety and restoration, including a town-by-town listing of outages in the CMP service area with an area map, can be found on CMP's web site at www.cmpco.com.