By KEITH EDWARDS

Staff Writer

Strong winds and heavy rains are expected to blast through Maine as Hurricane Noel turns into a nor'easter today.

Power outages could result and some local flooding could occur, even in inland Maine, though the nastiest weather appears more likely to hit the coast.

The worst of the weather is likely to blow through central Maine in the middle of the afternoon today, then continue into the night. The fast-moving storm is expected to interrupt an otherwise relatively calm, if rainy, morning with quickly increasing wind.

"When everyone wakes up in the morning, it's not going to be too bad," National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Marine said. "But that's going to change quickly. It will be moving at a pretty good clip as it approaches."

Wind gusts of 65 mph could reach central Maine, Marine said.

Officials at the Maine Emergency Management Agency said they're not going to be surprised by Hurricane Noel's fast-moving remnants.

"We had a conference call today with the National Weather Service, county emergency management agency directors and the emergency response team, just to make sure everyone has the newest and best information on the storm," said Lynette Miller, spokeswoman for the Maine Emergency Management Agency. "Communities, especially on the coast, have been briefed. We heard from the Red Cross, and they're preparing to open shelters if they should need to, and can put people up in hotels."

Central Maine Power Co. officials said they are preparing for power outages.

"We are keeping a close eye on the forecast, and our trucks and crews are set to go," CMP spokesman John Carroll said in a prepared statement. "But we want our customers to know Hurricane Noel could cause outages, so people might want to be prepared."

If a power outage occurs, Carroll suggested residents:

n keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly if using an emergency heat source such as a woodstove or kerosene heater;

n don't use grills or camp stoves indoors;

n don't run a generator indoors; and

n stay clear of any downed power lines.

Scott Lowery, assistant manager of The Home Depot in Augusta, said business was a bit busier than usual Friday afternoon. Workers put a special display of potentially storm-related items up earlier Friday.

"We set up a stormwatch center with things like tarps, batteries, generators, chainsaws, extension cords, gas heaters ... stuff you'd use if the power goes out," Lowery said. "We've been selling a lot of propane heaters."

Marine said the storm could bring a couple of inches of rain, with the worst of the storm coming between the middle of the afternoon until 10 p.m. or midnight.

Parts of the coast, he said, could be battered by 25- to 30-foot waves and winds upward of 70 mph.

Of course, sometimes storms don't turn out to warrant all the planning, concern and extra tarp purchases that precede them.

But better safe than sorry -- or soggy.

"We put all the preparations in place, and hope we don't need them," Miller said.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com