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BY MEGHAN V. MALLOY
Staff Writer 11/06/2009

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

WINTER ONCE AGAIN: A truck with a snow blower on the front clears a runway at the Augusta State Airport on Thursday evening. The National Weather Service forecast for today calls for clouds through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 45.

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

FROSTY FRANKENSTEIN: Snow coats a carved pumpkin this morning along Maine Ave. in Farmingdale. The layer of wet sticky snow, that clung to jack-o-lanterns and everything else that wasn't under cover, was melting as the temperatures were warming up today.

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Staff Writer

And so it begins.

Thursday morning brought a preview of winter: near-freezing temperatures, overcast skies and, of course, a little snow. Rooftops collected a light dusting starting in mid-afternoon.

As the flakes began to stick, wet roads around the Augusta area turned slick.

"For today, I think people should just use caution (while driving), and realize where the temperatures are hovering," Augusta police Lt. J. Chris Read said Thursday morning. "Right now it's in the mid-40s, but as evening time approaches, temperatures could go below freezing. Bridges will freeze up first, and people should definitely be careful."

The temperature in Augusta hovered just above freezing Thursday afternoon, as the police scanner started to buzz with reports of vehicles in Greater Augusta sliding off roads.

In Gray, a Winthrop woman walked away unhurt Thursday after her car rolled over onto its roof on the Maine Turnpike.

State police told WMTW-TV that Catherine Emery was passing another car when she lost control of her car in the slush, it hit a guardrail and spun around before flipping over.

Several other vehicles also went off the road, but no injuries were reported.

The wintry weather is expected to be only a preview, according to the National Weather Service.

"Actually, in a few days, we'll be seeing Indian summer again," said Tom Hawley, a meteorologist in Gray. "The weekend will be absolutely beautiful, and we'll more than likely be seeing temperatures close to the low 60s."

The brunt of the wintry weather already has gone out the sea, Hawley said, adding, "We're getting just a little bit of it."

Today's forecast calls for slight snow showers in the morning. Sun and warmth are expected by Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811, ext. 431

mmalloy@centralmaine.com

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