AUGUSTA — The slow-moving storm that traveled through central Maine from Thursday into Friday brought high winds and soaking rain and the promise of better weekend weather.

Nikki Becker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said wind gusts of up to 45 mph were reported in Augusta midday, but both the wind and rain were expected to wane Friday afternoon.

The storm brought reports of downed trees and power outages across the area as well as a few spinouts on Interstate 95 with drivers traveling too fast for conditions.

As the system was moving out Friday afternoon, areas of patchy fog, dense in some areas, were expected in its wake due to dropping temperatures and low-level moisture.

A person carries an umbrella in front of brightly colored fall foliage Friday near the Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Saturday is expected to bring a mix of sun and clouds will relatively mild overnight and daytime temperatures, she said.

While the wind advisory and the flood watches were being allowed to expire Friday, Becker said some localized flooding was possible in areas where fallen leaves may have blocked storm drains.

“When all this stops and the roads are still kind of wet and the leaves are on the road it looks really pretty, but it’s very hard to stop,” she said. “It’s like driving on ice.”

Beads of water form on the surface of a fallen yellow maple leaf Friday near the Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The wind and the rain brought reports of power outages, with numbers in central Maine fluctuating during the day.

Central Maine Power Co. reported more than 21,000 outages overnight across its service territory, which encompasses southern, central and parts of western Maine.

By 8 a.m., the outage number was down to 3,500, but by late morning, the number of outages across central Maine risen from relative small numbers to more than 10,000 by midafternoon. At 7 p.m. Friday there were about 9,500 outages reported across central Maine. 

“Our crews were out on the system before the sun came up (Friday) morning to begin power restoration,” Kerri Therriault, CMP’s senior director of Electric Operations, said in a statement issued by the company.

Therriault said the number of outages was expected to fluctuate throughout the day as wind and rain forecast continued to move through the state.

In both Kennebec and Somerset counties, few incidents were reported.

Mike Smith, director of the Somerset County Emergency Management Agency, said by midday Friday only a couple reports of trees down had surfaced.

In Kennebec County, no major incidents were reported by midday.

“For the most part, we’re doing very well,” Art True, director of the Kennebec County Emergency Management Agency said. “Most issues have been local and pretty much driving-related as people are not slowing down and hydroplaning.”

A woman dodges raindrops with her umbrella as she arrives at her SUV Friday in the parking lot at the Hathaway Creative Center in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

True said the wind and saturated ground resulted in reports of trees down across the county.

“It’s nothing that local departments aren’t handling at this point,” he said.

In Monmouth, the fire department issued a notice Friday morning about road closures due to fallen trees on routes 132 and 135 and on Bog Road at the Leeds town line.

The Maine State Police reported that a couple of vehicles spun out on Interstate 95 Friday morning due to hydroplaning.

“The Maine State Police reminds drivers to slow down in inclement weather,” Shannon Moss, public information officer for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said.

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