Alert archive / Maine / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 174, NWS Gray, ME

July 31, 2008York County, Maine

NWS Gray, ME issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 31, 2008, 4:55 PM EDT for York County, Maine. It was in force for 50 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 31, 2008, 4:55 PM EDT (20:55 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2008, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Gray, ME
Area
Storm-based polygon

County York County, ME

The radar

The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:59 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Gray, ME (KGYX), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 61 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2008-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 196 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2008-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
196 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
859 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 31, 1:06 PM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 1:06 PM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
106 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT TO CENTRAL MAINE TODAY. THE COLD FRONT
WILL REACH THE COAST BY FRIDAY MORNING AND STALL. SEVERAL WAVES OF
LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE FRONT AND MOVE NORTHEAST. THE
STRONGEST OF THESE WILL FORM OVER THE MID ATLANTIC STATES ON SAT
AND MOVE NORTHEAST INTO CANADA BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING. WEAK HIGH
PRESSURE WILL CREST OVER THE REGION TUESDAY MORNING.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING/...
SURFACE OBS/SATELLITE SUGGEST THE WARM FRONT IS STALLED ACROSS
CENTRAL MAINE. FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY CLEARING SOUTH OF LEB-IZG-
PMW...WITH NORTH OF THIS LINE MOSTLY CLOUDY. BASED ON 12Z NAM AND
WESTERLY FLOW AT 500 MB...FEEL THE FRONT WILL MAKE LITTLE
NORTHWARD PROGRESSION. THIS GENERALLY DIVIDES THE FORECAST AREA
INTO THREE AREAS. THE FIRST...THE MID-COAST AND CENTRAL
MAINE...WHERE CLOUDS WILL STAY SOCKED IN...AND HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS
WHICH DID MOVE IN AREA EXPECTED TO SLOWLY MOVE EASTWARD.
HERE...EXPECT THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO BE MINIMAL...WITH THE
MAIN CONCERN HEAVY RAIN. HOWEVER...DO EXPECT CONVECTIVE CELLS
WHICH MOVE INTO THIS REGION SHOULD FLATTEN OUT AS CONVECTION
ENCOUTERS MARITIME LAYER.

FEEL THERE IS A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT SOUTH OF THE LEB-IZG-PWM
LINE...AS WARMER AIR HAS WORKED IN...WITH DEW POINTS IN THE UPPER
60S. FEEL SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY WILL EXIST FOR PULSE
STORMS...AS WIND FIELD GENERALLY DOES NOT SUPPORT ORGANIZED
CONVECTION. HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO BE A CONCERN. IN THE
MOUNTAINS...WARMER AIR HAS NOT MADE IT IN...HOWEVER IN ABSENCE OF
THE MARITIME LAYER WILL KEEP ENHANCED WORDING IN AS WELL...THOUGH
CHANCES ARE LESS THAN IN SOUTHERN SECTIONS. OVERALL...ADJUSTMENTS
ARE TO FINE-TUNE TO FIT THE POSITION OF BOUNDARIES. TWEAKED
TEMPS/POPS/QPF.

&&

.SHORT TERM /7 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/...
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER INTO THE EVENING THEN JUST SHOWERS WITH
PATCHY FOG DEVELOPING. THE COLD FRONT SLOWS TO A CRAWL AND BECOMES
STATIONARY SO EXPECT EH CHC OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE NIGHT. USED MAV
GUIDANCE FOR LOW TEMPS.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
A SERIES OF UPR LVL SHORT WAVES WILL MOVE OVER THE NE THRU MUCH
OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD. THIS WILL CREATE UNSETTLED SHOWERY WX FOR
MUCH OF THIS PERIOD. GENERALLY USED THE GFS40...MAV MOS AND GMOS
FOR THIS FCST.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
SHORT TERM...EXPECT MVFR OR IFR CEILINGS AND VSBY THIS AM THEN
IMPROVING TO VFR AFTER SUNRISE. CONDITIONS LWR TO MVFR AND IFR
THIS AFTERNOON IN ANY THUNDERSTORMS AND FOG TONIGHT.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...ISOLD TO SCT SHRA AND TSRA
WILL LWR CONDITIONS TO MVFR OR IFR AT TIMES THRU THE LONG TERM
PERIOD AS AN UPR LVL LOW REMAINS OVER THE NE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT
FOR CONVECTION TO DEVELOP MOST DAYS DURING THE LONG TERM PERIOD.

&&

.MARINE...
SHORT TERM...WINDS WILL BE SE TODAY AND TONIGHT BUT LESS THAN SCA
CRITERIA. EXPECT AREAS OF FOG AT NIGHT.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...WINDS AND SEAS WILL STAY BLO
SCA LVLS THRU THE LONG TERM PERIOD...EXCEPT SEAS COULD NUDGE
TOWARD THE 5 FT BENCHMARK FOR AN SCA LATE SATURDAY NGT AND SUNDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
SHOWERS HAVE PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH AMOUNTS
APPROACHING 2 INCHES AN HOUR IN THE HEAVIER SHOWERS. RADAR
ESTIMATES SEEM ON TRACK...WITH A 2 TO 3 INCH BAND ACROSS SOUTHERN
OXFORD COUNTY. WILL MONITOR THIS REGION THIS AFTERNOON...AS ANY
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY REQUIRE A FLOOD WARNING. PRECIPITABLE
WATER VALUES UPSTREAM (1.58 AT CHATHAM) IS ENOUGH TO PRESENT SOME
FLASH FLOODING THREAT GIVEN THE WEAK FLOW. WILL MONITOR...BUT DO
NOT PLAN ANY WATCHES AT THIS TIME. AGAIN...MAIN CONCERN IS WHERE
RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...NONE.
NH...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...
NEAR TERM...APFFEL
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...
HYDROLOGY...APFFEL
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 8:51 AM EDT, 8 hours 4 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
851 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-011300-
NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN OXFORD-
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-INTERIOR YORK-
INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO-
COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-
NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-
SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL-SULLIVAN-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-
STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-
851 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY.

MOST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST MAINE COULD SEE LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THE STORM
PREDICTION CENTER HAS MUCH OF THIS AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. ALSO...SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

ANZ150>154-011300-
STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME OUT TO 25 NM-PENOBSCOT BAY-
PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME OUT TO 25 NM-CASCO BAY-
CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM-
851 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CASCO BAY...PENOBSCOT
BAY...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER
MA...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME AND
THE COASTAL WATERS FROM STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS FROM ABOUT BOOTHBAY HARBOR
TO THE MERRIMACK RIVER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:59 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
359 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

NHZ003-005-312030-
NORTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-
359 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL TRACK EAST OF ORFORD THROUGH 430 PM
EDT...

AT 359 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ORFORD...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THIS
STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS JUST EAST OF ORFORD TO
WENTWORTH THROUGH 430 PM EDT.

HEAVY DOWNPOURS...PEA-SIZED HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED.

APFFEL
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:10 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:15 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
415 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

MEZ018-023-024-312100-
COASTAL CUMBERLAND-COASTAL YORK-INTERIOR YORK-
415 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT YORK COUNTY AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY
THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 415 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF GOODWINS MILLS...OR
ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF BIDDEFORD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS
STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND LYMAN...BAR
MILLS...HOLLIS...GOODWINS MILLS...BUXTON...ALFRED...SACO...
BIDDEFORD...OCEAN PARK AND FERRY BEACH STATE PARK THROUGH 500 PM EDT.

HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS PRODUCING
RAINFALL OF OVER AN INCH AN HOUR...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED.

MC
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 4:50 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
450 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

NHZ003-312130-
NORTHERN GRAFTON-
450 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT GRAFTON COUNTY THROUGH
530 PM EDT...

AT 450 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED NEAR LINCOLN...MOVING EAST AT 22 MPH.
THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
LINCOLN...WATERVILLE VALLEY AND LIVERMORE THROUGH 530 PM EDT.

HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...AND PEA-SIZED HAIL
CAN BE EXPECTED AS THIS STORM MOVES THROUGH.

APFFEL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Gray, ME issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 31, 8:19 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXOxford41 min
Jul 31, 10:09 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXOxford3 hr
Jul 31, 11:22 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXAndroscoggin, Cumberland, Sagadahoc68 min
Jul 31, 11:58 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXAndroscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, Sagadahoc3 hr
Jul 31, 1:25 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXOxford3 hr
Jul 31, 5:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXCumberland, York88 min
Jul 31, 6:17 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGYXCumberland, York3 hr
Jul 31, 7:21 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXYork84 min
Jul 31, 7:50 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningGYX55 min
Jul 31, 3:40 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXCoos2 hr
Jul 31, 4:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGYXGrafton112 min
Jul 31, 6:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXBelknap, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford40 min
Jul 31, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGYXMerrimack, Rockingham35 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maine, 2008Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.