In a powerful snowstorm that struck Maine on Saturday, nearly 141,000 customers are still without electricity as of Sunday afternoon. The storm, accompanied by freezing rain and ice, caused widespread damage to trees and power lines across all 16 counties in the state.

Central Maine Power (CMP) reported that at the peak of the storm, around 198,745 of its customers were affected, with Cumberland County being the hardest hit. Of CMP's 177,311 customers in Cumberland County, 87,255 were without power early Sunday. York County also experienced significant outages, with 46,543 CMP customers affected.

CMP spokesperson Jonathan Breed stated that the utility had deployed 150 line crews and an additional 150 tree crews ahead of the storm. Another 200 line crews from Vermont and Canada were also mobilized to assist with restoration efforts. However, due to the extensive damage caused by downed trees and falling ice, CMP estimates that it will take until Tuesday evening to fully restore power for all customers in Maine.

Breed emphasized that the areas that were hardest hit would experience longer outage periods but would receive the most attention from crews. Nevertheless, customers may not receive an estimate of when their power will be restored until Monday.

The storm also resulted in hazardous road conditions, with CMP responding to over 250 emergency calls on Saturday night. Temperatures dropped to 23 degrees Fahrenheit in Portland, exacerbating the difficulties faced by both residents and utility crews. While some ice has started to melt as temperatures rose to 37 degrees by Sunday afternoon, lows of 14 degrees are expected over the next couple of days.

To provide relief for those without power, the city of Portland has opened a warming shelter at the East End Community School. The shelter will be available overnight for individuals to seek warmth, charge electronics, and find temporary accommodation.

Maine State Police reported 210 storm-related car accidents over the weekend, with only minor injuries reported and no major road closures. The Maine Department of Transportation is working to plow roads and clear away fallen trees, although the storm is considered relatively mild compared to previous severe weather events experienced in December and January.

Despite the disruption caused by the storm, Portland International Jetport has returned to normal operations. Only a few flights were canceled or delayed, with all airlines operating on a regular schedule by midday Sunday.

As the restoration efforts continue, CMP is urging customers to exercise caution and report any downed power lines or outages. The utility is working diligently to assess the damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

This story is continually developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Note: The information in this article is sourced from Central Maine Power and other authorities mentioned in the text.