The first significant snowstorm of the season descended on Maine Tuesday, blanketing the state with snow, including up to 8 inches in the mountains.

As the first flakes began to fall Tuesday morning, many schools and public offices closed, and the speed limit on the Maine Turnpike was reduced to 45 mph.

The storm is expected to bring about 3 to 6 inches of snow to the coast, and inland residents could see more than 8 inches by Tuesday night.

Most areas had received 4 to 6 inches by Tuesday evening, but the snowfall is forecast to intensify throughout the night, with the National Weather Service saying snow could fall at up to an inch per hour at points.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 4 a.m. Wednesday for Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Waldo and York counties, as well as the southern portions of Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties.

The weather service expects the storm to cause rapid snow accumulation, low visibility and dangerous driving conditions.

9:40 p.m.: Latest snowfall totals from Gray NWS

The National Weather Service office in Gray released new snowfall totals for Tuesday.

Among the hardest hit areas in Maine are Madrid with 8.1 inches as of 6:30 p.m., Temple with 6.5 inches as of 5 p.m., Kingfield with 6.2 inches as of 8 p.m. and Fryeburg with 6 inches as of 8 p.m.

Nearly 6 inches had fallen in the Lewiston area as of 9 p.m., while most other towns in southern Maine had recorded between 2 and 5.5 inches Tuesday afternoon into night.

7:40 p.m.: Caribou NWS office reports totals

The NWS Caribou Office was reporting 5.5 inches in Baileyville, 5.3 inches in Grand Lake Stream, 5 inches in Springfield, 4.1 inches in Presque Isle, 4 inches in Cary, Calais and Lincoln as of about 7:40 p.m.

Most other areas in Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington counties saw 3 or fewer inches by that time.

7:15 p.m.: Reports from weather spotters

The National Weather Service in Gray was still preparing to release a new round of official snow totals in Maine, but had received reports from weather spotters from across the region Tuesday evening.

The Gray office has received reports of 5.5 inches in Auburn, 5.2 inches in Baldwin, and 4.4 inches in the Gray area.

Up to 8 inches has been reported in the mountains, while the Midcoast has seen about 2 inches so far. 

State police said they had responded to “approximately 50” crashes as of 7 p.m. and that all lanes affected by the crash in Hampden had reopened as of 6:30 p.m.

5:45 p.m.: More snowfall totals from northern Maine

Another batch of snowfall totals from the National Weather Service’s office in Caribou shows accumulation increasing in northern and Down East Maine.

As of just after 5:30 p.m., the Washington County town of Baileyville had recorded 5.5 inches. Just to the east, Calais had gotten 4 inches.

Other totals included 3.3 inches in the Piscataquis County town of Greenville, 1.9 inches in the Penobscot County city of Brewer and 1.5 inches in Castle Hill up in Aroostook County.

5 p.m.: Snow accumulating in northern Maine

Northern and eastern Maine were expected to see less snow Tuesday than southern parts of the state, but many towns had received at least a couple inches by 4:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service reported snow totals in Aroostook County ranging from 2.6 inches in Presque Isle to 1.1 inches in Caribou.

In Penobscot County, a trained spotter in Lakeville reported 4.3 inches of snow just after 4 p.m., while 2 inches was reported in the Hancock County town of Dedham.

Other totals included 3.3 inches in the Washington County town of Whiting and 3 inches in Blanchard in Piscataquis County.

4:50 p.m.: College students revel in snow during day off in Farmington

Students at the University of Maine at Farmington spent their first snow day of winter enjoying the snow.

In a series of photos shared by the university on social media, it was clear students weren’t going to waste their day inside, instead choosing to head out and throw snowballs, make snow angels and slide down hills on campus.

4:15 p.m.: Maine State Police respond to over 30 crashes during storm

Maine State Police troopers had responded to 34 crashes on Interstate 95 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Most of the crashes involved no injuries, and none involved serious injuries, according to police.

Those wrecks included one in Hampden that is blocking northbound lanes and another near mile marker 14 in Ogunquit that has shut down the right lane.

4 p.m.: Weather service reports new afternoon snow totals

New snowfall totals released by the National Weather Service late Tuesday afternoon showed that snow is starting to build up across southern and western Maine.

The highest snow totals so far are in Androscoggin County, with Greene reporting 4.1 inches and Lewiston reporting an even 4 inches.

In Cumberland County, 3 inches of snow have fallen in New Gloucester. Brunswick has seen 2 inches of snow, while 1.6 inches have been recorded at the Portland International Jetport.

Limington has the highest total so far in York County at 3.3 inches. Less than an inch has fallen in York, according to a weather service updated posted at 3:45 p.m.

In neighboring New Hampshire, Belknap and Carroll counties have seen 4 to 5 inches of snow, the weather service reports.

3:45 p.m.: Crash blocks I-95 lanes in Hampden

A crash near mile marker 177 on Interstate 95 in Hampden is blocking both northbound lanes, according to Maine State Police.

Traffic is slowly getting by as crews work to clear the scene. Police did not immediately release any other details about the crash but reminded people to drive slow and allow extra time to get to their destination.

2:40 p.m.: Snowfall expected to pick up this evening, weather service warns

Heavier snow is expected to hit Maine on Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Many parts of the state are already reporting snowfall totals between 1 and 4 inches, meteorologist Jerry Combs said Tuesday afternoon from the weather service’s forecast office in Gray.

Though the weather reports are sparse so far, Combs said, between 1 to 2 inches of snow have fallen in Cumberland County, as well as 1 to 3 inches in York County, with the most so far in Limington at 3.3 inches.

Much of Androscoggin County is seeing 3 to 4 inches of snow, while in Oxford County, Fryeburg has reported 4 inches, Combs said.

2:35 p.m.: Lakes Region towns close offices, declare parking bans

Town offices in Windham, Gray, New Gloucester, Raymond, Casco, Naples, Sebago and Standish all closed early Tuesday because of the wintry weather.

A Gray Town Council meeting focused on providing an update to an ongoing search for a town manager has been moved to online-only.

New Gloucester has delayed a public hearing on two building permit applications to Dec. 16.

The Casco Public Library is extending its “Great Holiday Toy Exchange” until Wednesday.

Windham declared a parking ban between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, while Bridgton declared one lasting from Tuesday to Thursday.

2:30 p.m.: Maine Turnpike Authority warns of crashes

The Maine Turnpike Authority issued two alerts for crashes along Interstate 95 as snowfall continues Tuesday afternoon.

Southbound drivers should expect delays between Exit 25 in Kennebunk and Exit 19 in Wells because of a crash at mile marker 22. The left lane is blocked, according to the MTA.

At around 1:20 p.m., the agency issued an alert for multiple crashes at mile 14 in Ogunquit. Motorists traveling northbound between Exit 7 in York and Exit 19 in Wells should be cautious while the center and right lanes are blocked.

2:20 p.m.: Biddeford inauguration moves to online stream

Tuesday night’s Biddeford inauguration ceremony has been moved to an online livestream, city officials confirmed.

Mayor-elect Liam LaFountain, City Council members and school committee members will be sworn in via Zoom at 7 p.m. The livestream will be available on the city’s website.

The city’s charter prevents a postponement of the event, Assistant to the City Manager Danica Lamontagne said.

If a post-inaugural celebration is planned in the future, details will be posted on the city’s website and social media, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Shelly MacNeill said.

2:10 p.m.: Scarborough closing Town Hall early

Scarborough Town Hall is closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday because of the snow. The town will also shut down nonemergency operations at that time, according to an alert from the town.

2 p.m.: New Mainers celebrate first snow

Joli Gembize and Ziwi Umhdi were among a group of Rwandan immigrants who recently moved to the Lewiston area and were enjoying their first glimpse of snow.

“It’s so beautiful and nice,” Joli told a Sun Journal photographer Tuesday.

1:30 p.m.: First snowfall reports creeping in

The first confirmed snowfall measurements from the National Weather Service are beginning to arrive.

As of noon Tuesday, most reports indicated about 1 to 2 inches of snow had fallen in southern, central and western Maine, while northern Maine has seen between 2 and 4 inches in many places.

In the southern portion of Maine covered by the weather service’s Gray office, the early leaders for highest snowfall were Baldwin (2.6 inches), Farmingdale (2.2) and Washington (2.0).

Lewiston recorded 1.5 inches and Auburn 1.8 inches as of noon. Data for Portland and Augusta was not yet available.

1 p.m.: Handful of delays at Portland Jetport, but no cancellations yet

Seven flights in and out of the Portland International Jetport on Tuesday have been delayed, but none have been canceled so far, the airport’s assistant director said in a statement early Tuesday afternoon.

The airport has 55 flights scheduled throughout Tuesday. Assistant Airport Director Zachary Sundquist said passengers should remember to check their flight status before going to the airport in case of weather delays.

12:55 p.m.: Lewiston City Hall closing, but meetings still on

Lewiston City Hall will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday, officials say, but a City Council executive session scheduled for 6 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. will proceed as normal.

12:50 p.m.: Central Maine social service providers closed

Some social service providers in central Maine closed due to the storm Tuesday.

Bridging the Gap, a low-barrier daytime community resource in Augusta, is closed. Normally, clothing is available at the Eastern Avenue center on Tuesdays through Addie’s Attic, while hygiene items are typically available through Everyday Basic Essentials Hygiene Pantry.

The LINC Center, a peer-supported recovery and vocational center on Memorial Drive in Augusta, also announced on social media that it was closed Tuesday.

The Kennebec Valley YMCA in Augusta closed at noon and plans to reopen at 7 a.m. Wednesday, it announced on social media.

12:35 p.m.: Fairfield, Skowhegan libraries closed

The Lawrence Public Library in Fairfield and the Skowhegan Free Public Library are closed all day Tuesday due to the storm.

Town offices in Skowhegan and Norridgewock closed at noon, while Fairfield’s closed at 11:30 a.m. and Madison’s closed at 12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.: Raymond postpones hearing on effort to recall town councilors

A planned public hearing Tuesday on a petition to recall several Raymond Town Council members has been postponed by a week, officials announced. Raymond Town Hall closed at noon because of the weather. The public hearing is now scheduled for Dec. 9.

Noon: South Portland delays City Council meeting

The South Portland City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed until Thursday at 6:30 p.m., according to a post on the city’s Facebook page. That meeting will be held in council chambers at City Hall.

11:55 a.m.: Hallowell special meeting still on

A special meeting of the Hallowell City Council set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday is moving forward despite the snow.

Mayor George Lapointe is intent on approving three new members of the city’s appeals board as soon as possible, City Clerk Lisa Gilliam said, and those appointment are the only items on the agenda.

A work session that was scheduled to follow the special meeting, focusing on the city’s use of tax increment financing funds, has been canceled.

11:45 a.m.: Brunswick, Topsham town halls closing early

Brunswick and Topsham are closing their town halls at noon Tuesday because of the storm.

11:15 a.m.: Biddeford inauguration could be impacted

Tuesday night’s Biddeford inauguration ceremonies — where Mayor-elect Liam LaFountain, City Council members and school committee members are set to be sworn in — could be impacted by the weather.

Postponing the inauguration is not an option because of the rules laid out in the city charter, Assistant to the City Manager Danica Lamontagne said Tuesday, so officials are considering hosting the ceremony via Zoom.

If the in-person inauguration goes forward as planned, the city has arranged a free shuttle service from the Pearl Street parking garage to City Theater, where the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

11:05 a.m.: Multiple food pantries closed

The Harrison Food Bank is closed Tuesday because of the weather, according to organizers.

The food bank, which distributes food to more than 1,100 families from 63 communities each week, will instead deliver food Wednesday morning. It will be open from 12 to 6 p.m. Wednesday for drive-thru pickup.

The Saco Food Pantry is also closed Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday morning.

In Alfred, the First County Food Pantry on Swetts Bridge Road will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday. It will also open again at noon Friday.

11 a.m.: Bath, Freeport offices closing early

Bath and Freeport municipal offices are closing at noon Tuesday because of the inclement weather, officials say.

Bath has declared a parking ban from 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, while Freeport has a ban in already effect from 11 p.m. Monday to noon Wednesday.

10:30 a.m.: Wells postpones Select Board meeting

Wells has delayed its Tuesday evening Select Board meeting until Wednesday at 6 p.m. because of the storm, town spokesperson Rebekah Kelley said in a news release. The meeting’s agenda is unchanged, Kelley said.

10:20 a.m.: Lewiston, Auburn declare parking bans

The cities of Lewiston and Auburn have both declared snow parking bans.

Lewiston’s ban runs from 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, while Auburn’s is in effect from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday.

10:10 a.m.: Turnpike crash in West Gardiner

The Maine Turnpike Authority has issued an alert about a crash on the Maine Turnpike in West Gardiner, blocking the northbound left lane at mile marker 104.

It wasn’t immediately clear from the MTA’s alert how many vehicles were involved or whether anyone was injured in the crash.

The agency warned drivers to use caution and expect delays between Exit 103 in West Gardiner and the end of the turnpike at mile marker 109.

9:55 a.m.: Gorham postpones Town Council meetings

Gorham announced Tuesday morning that special and regular Town Council meetings scheduled for Tuesday evening have been postponed because of the weather.

The town also announced Tuesday morning that town offices would close at noon.

9:45 a.m.: Snow coats most of Maine

Most of Maine has seen a coating of snow so far Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service office in Gray.

Meteorologist Jon Palmer said the snowfall is on track with what forecasters expected. He encouraged motorists to be careful and drive slowly as the storm continues to move in.

9:30 a.m.: Courthouses closed all over state

Courts will be closed in southern and western Maine all day Tuesday, while courts in northern Maine, like Somerset and Penobscot counties, will close after noon. All closures are posted on the state’s website.

Courts spokesperson Barbara Cardone said clerks for individual courts will reschedule hearings when they reopen and people will be notified by mail.

9:15 a.m.: Portland, Westbrook declare parking bans

Portland called a citywide parking ban beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. City officials warned residents that they will face higher fines if they fail to move their car during a ban.

The City Council recently raised the fine to $130 in an effort to improve compliance with winter plow operations.

In a news release Tuesday, city officials also reminded residents and business owners about the city’s snow removal ordinance. Business owners must remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property 12 hours after a winter storm. Residential owners must clear their sidewalks 18 hours after the end of a storm, or when the city finished snow removal operations, whichever is later.

Neighboring Westbrook also declared a citywide parking ban from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday.

8:30 a.m.: Scarborough declares parking ban

Scarborough officials announced Tuesday morning that the town had declared a parking ban from noon Tuesday until noon Wednesday.

Other Maine communities that have already announced parking bans include Bath, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Lisbon, Old Orchard Beach, Rockland, Sanford, South Portland, Windham and Yarmouth.

8 a.m.: Closures ramp up statewide; Turnpike speed limit reduced

Hundreds of school districts and agencies across the state are reporting closings Tuesday morning.

Maine state offices are closing at noon because of hazardous snow conditions. Gov. Janet Mills “urges all Maine people to exercise caution when traveling,” according to the state’s website.

Speed limits on the entire length of the Maine Turnpike are reduced to 45 mph due to snow, according to the Maine Turnpike Authority. No oversized vehicles are allowed on the highway.

This story will be updated.