To some extent, today’s predicted snowstorm will be just like any other for plow drivers in central Maine.

“We got all the gear on the trucks, ready to roll,” Hallowell Public Works Foreman Tony LaPlante said Tuesday afternoon. “We do what we need to keep the roads safe.”

Additional Photos

GETTING READY: Augusta Public Works employees Mark White, right in cab, and Don McKinzie guide a plow onto a plow truck Tuesday at the city’s garage. State and municipal crews were preparing their rigs for snowfall that has been forecast for today. Staff photo by Andy Molloy

HERE IT COMES: Syrena Touchton loads a tube of sand Tuesday into the bed of her pickup at Harvey’s Hardware in Gardiner. The load adds ballast for the truck to operate in the snow, Touchton said. Hardware stores across Maine had a flood of customers buying shovels, salt and sand. Staff photo by Andy Molloy

However, as people crowd roads on one of the busiest travel days of the year, the storm’s timing could complicate matters.

Skowhegan Road Commissioner Greg Dore hopes people will be patient as the 12 people on his crew work to clear the roads.

“Because of the additional traffic, it takes us longer to get around, so I’m putting an extra truck on,” he said. “I ask people to drive slow, be safe.”

Although Maine was already hit by an early season snowstorm late last month, today’s storm will be the first real test of the season, LaPlante said.

“Yes, we already had a storm, but it was in the middle of the night, and by the time everybody got up and moving on a Sunday morning the roads were in good condition,” he said. “This is really going to be their first experience this year driving in slippery conditions, and that’s always an adventure early in the year.”

Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Gray was predicting that snow would move into central Maine today during the early morning.

Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley announced its opening at noon Tuesday with three trails and one lift, saying the storm will likely dump another foot of now on top of what the snowguns have already produced.

Snowfall totals could reach 10 inches in southern Kennebec County and 12 to 14 inches in the central and northern parts of the county, according to meteorologist Eric Schwibs.

“The worst part of the storm up there is going to be in the early morning to early afternoon hours,” Schwibs said. “Travel will not be that good. It’s better by (Wednesday) night — that’s the good news.”

Temperatures will hover near freezing all day, leading to a wintry mix in some places and greasy snow in others, Schwibs said. The worst of the weather should be over by 6 or 7 p.m., he said.

Central Maine Power crews are prepared for the possibility of downed power lines and outages from heavy wet snow. The utility is coordinating with Maine Emergency Management Association and the governor’s office, according to a release.

Public officials hope people will drive slowly and cautiously.

Maine Department of Transportation officials anticipate the storm will affect the entire state and so they will be in close contact with Maine State Police and the National Weather Service, spokesman Ted Talbot said.

“We want the public to be just ready and aware — to watch out for each other and watch out for those snowplows,” he said.

Talbot cautioned drivers not to tailgate snowplows, because the drivers have limited visibility, and not to pass them.

“Do not even attempt it,” he said. “The road behind that snowplow is much better than the road ahead of it.”

Jerry Dostie, superintendent of streets in Augusta, hopes that with school being out, and some people staying home from work, there will be less traffic on the roads. He and his crew are prepared for a messy time.

“The fortunate thing is that the ground is still fairly warm, and with the temperatures, the salt will be effective,” he said. “We stocked up on our salt and sand earlier this fall, so we are prepared and have plenty of material.”

Susan McMillan — 621-5645

smcmillan@mainetoday.com