Storm brings heavy rain, wind, and snow in northern areas

By Casey Ramsdell, Globe Correspondent

A storm that churned into New England early today brought strong winds and lashing rain, and dumped about a foot of snow in northern regions.

Along the Massachusetts coast this afternoon, winds buffeted the towns of Newburyport and Gloucester, where there were reports of downed trees and power lines. Gusts reached 45 to 50 miles per hour around midday, according to Hayden Frank, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Taunton.

As of 1 p.m., Boston had received more than an inch of rain, and the total could possibly reach more than 2 inches today, he said. A flood watch was in effect, mostly over concerns about urban flooding.

“It doesn’t look like it is a serious situation,” he said.

Franklin County in Massachusetts has received about a quarter inch of snow in higher elevations. But as much as a foot of snow had fallen in northern New Hampshire as of noon, and Northern Maine had received 6 to 10 inches, according to John Cannon, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.

Cannon said that coastal Maine has also had high winds of up to 50 m.p.h. and that large waves have caused some coastal damage.

Southern Vermont has also received reports of one inch of snow and rain.

Central Maine Power said 5,200 customers in Maine were without power at one point during the morning, and most schools in South Portland dismissed students early after losing power, the Associated Press reported. Public Service of New Hampshire reported that about 3,900 homes and businesses were without power as of early afternoon, the AP said.

But tomorrow is a different story in Boston, with a forecast of partly sunny skies with highs in the mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service.

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