Alert archive / Maine / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 84, NWS Gray, ME

October 30, 2012Kennebec County, Lincoln County, Sagadahoc County, Maine

NWS Gray, ME issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 30, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT for Kennebec County, Lincoln County, Sagadahoc County, Maine. It was in force for 65 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Oct 30, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT (14:40 UTC)
Expired: Oct 30, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
In force: 65 min
Issued by: NWS Gray, ME
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Kennebec County, ME, Lincoln County, ME, Sagadahoc County, ME

The radar

The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:43 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Gray, ME (KGYX), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 39 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 227 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 591 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 223 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 293 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

384 
WUUS51 KGYX 301440
SVRGYX
MEC011-015-023-301545-
/O.NEW.KGYX.SV.W.0084.121030T1440Z-121030T1545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1040 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY MAINE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN KENNEBEC COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MAINE...
  SAGADAHOC COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MAINE...
  WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MAINE...

* UNTIL 1145 AM EDT...

* AT 1039 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  GEORGETOWN...OR NEAR BOOTHBAY HARBOR...AND MOVING NORTH AT 55 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  BATH...WOOLWICH...WISCASSET...LITCHFIELD...GARDINER...
  FARMINGDALE...HALLOWELL...AUGUSTA...WINTHROP...MANCHESTER...
  BELGRADE AND OAKLAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

LAT...LON 4375 6963 4380 6962 4377 6966 4381 6970
      4371 6977 4372 6976 4372 6983 4389 6989
      4395 6986 4393 6989 4449 7010 4450 7004
      4454 7006 4458 6971 4377 6958 4376 6960
      4375 6958
TIME...MOT...LOC 1440Z 170DEG 46KT 4383 6973

$$

HANES

2 follow-up statements

167 
WWUS51 KGYX 301508
SVSGYX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1108 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

MEC011-015-023-301545-
/O.CON.KGYX.SV.W.0084.000000T0000Z-121030T1545Z/
KENNEBEC ME-SAGADAHOC ME-LINCOLN ME-
1108 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 AM EDT
FOR WEST CENTRAL LINCOLN...NORTH CENTRAL SAGADAHOC AND WESTERN
KENNEBEC COUNTIES...

AT 1107 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR PEACOCK BEACH STATE PARK...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
GARDINER...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PITTSTON...WEST GARDINER...RANDOLPH...GARDINER...CHELSEA...
FARMINGDALE...HALLOWELL...AUGUSTA...MANCHESTER...WINTHROP...SIDNEY...
READFIELD...BELGRADE...FAYETTE...OAKLAND...MOUNT VERNON AND VIENNA.

LAT...LON 4406 6980 4405 6985 4407 6993 4449 7010
      4449 7005 4450 7004 4454 7006 4458 6971
      4413 6964 4412 6964
TIME...MOT...LOC 1508Z 164DEG 45KT 4415 6988

$$

STJEAN

047 
WWUS51 KGYX 301538
SVSGYX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1138 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

MEC011-015-023-301548-
/O.EXP.KGYX.SV.W.0084.000000T0000Z-121030T1545Z/
KENNEBEC ME-SAGADAHOC ME-LINCOLN ME-
1138 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL LINCOLN...NORTH
CENTRAL SAGADAHOC AND WESTERN KENNEBEC COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1145
AM EDT...

THE THUNDERSTORM WAS NO LONGER PRODUCING SEVERE WEATHER...ALTHOUGH 
HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE FROM THIS LINE OF 
THUNDERSTORMS. 

LAT...LON 4406 6980 4405 6985 4407 6993 4449 7010
      4449 7005 4450 7004 4454 7006 4458 6971
      4413 6964 4412 6964
TIME...MOT...LOC 1538Z 167DEG 46KT 4448 6989

$$

STJEAN/NWS GRAY

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 Oct 30, 9:42 AM EDT, 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 30, 9:42 AM EDT, 58 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
942 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND
MAINE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE REMNANTS OF SANDY SLOWLY WEAKEN. THE
REMNANT LOW WILL DRIFT ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...KEEPING RAIN CHANCES IN THE
FORECAST.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...

930 AM...LATEST GOES INFRARED SHOWS CONVECTION AND COOLING TOPS UPSTREAM
OVER GULF OF MAINE THAT WILL MOVE ONSHORE TODAY. HAVE ADDED
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO THE 1ST PERIOD UPDATE. SOME POTENTIAL
FOR LOW TOP STORMS TO MIX DOWN DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. EXPECT LOCALIZED
HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL WITH HIGHEST TOTALS ACROSS FAVORED
UPSLOPE AREAS OF WESTERN MAINE AND NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HAVE
ADJUSTED FORECAST QPF FOR THAT AREA.

630AM UPDATE... SO FAR ON TRACK. TWEAKED SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS DOWN
A BIT FOR SOUTHERN NH AS WE ARE SEEING OBS BELOW 10KT... WE MAY
HAVE BRIEFLY DECOUPLED IN THE VALLEYS. STILL EXPECTING THE COAST
TO REMAIN A BIT HIGHER FOR SUSTAINED WINDS AS WELL AS WIND GUSTS TO
CONTINUE TO MIX DOWN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SOME SUGGESTION OF
DEEP CONVECTION DEVELOPING OFFSHORE. HAVE HEDGED AWAY FROM ADDING
ANY THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE MOMENT AS WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT CHANGES
WITH SUNRISE.

PREV DISC...
RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON TUESDAY AS THE
REMNANTS OF SANDY CONTINUES TO BRING MOIST AIR INTO THE REGION.
HAVE KEPT POPS RELATIVELY HIGH AS OFF SHORE SATELLITE CONTINUES TO
INDICATED SHOWERS POISED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA. UPSLOPE WINDS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN AS EAST FACING SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS
SEE HEAVIER RAINFALL. USED GFSBC FOR THE TEMPERATURES WITH NAM
WINDS. EXPECTING WINDS TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE AND THUS DROPPED
THE WIND WARNING.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/...
DROPPED POPS THROUGH THIS PERIOD TO ALIGN WITH GUIDANCE AND
NEIGHBORS, HOWEVER THERE IS STILL SOME CONCERN FOR THE MTNS AND
FOOTHILLS AS LOW LEVEL WINDS CONTINUE TO BE PERPENDICULAR TO THE
MTNS.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
THE REMNANTS OF SANDY CONTINUE TO WEAKEN AND LIFT INTO NY STATE ON
WED. DEEP SELY FLOW AND HIGH PWAT AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE
OVER THE CWFA INTO EARLY THU. THIS SHOULD KEEP ABUNDANT CLOUDS AND
SHRA ACROSS THE AREA...WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UPSLOPE RAFL FOR THE SE
FACING SLOPES. EXPECT THE COAST WILL REMAIN MOSTLY DRY...BUT THE
HIGHER TERRAIN WILL SEE ON AND OFF SHRA FOR MUCH OF THE FIRST 24
HRS OF THE EXTENDED. HIGH PWAT AIR MASS LIFTS NE OF THE CWFA BY
THU...AND HEAVIEST UPSLOPE SHRA WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN. HOWEVER...SE
FLOW LINGERING INTO FRI WILL KEEP THE THREAT OF SHRA IN THE FCST
ALONG WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY CONDS.

AS UPR LOW MEANDERS INTO SRN CANADA...FLOW WILL TURN NWLY ALOFT
AND DRYING WILL BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE. ASIDE FROM THE FAVORED NWLY
UPSLOPE ZONES OF NRN NH AND WRN ME...CLEARING WILL BEGIN TO TAKE
PLACE AS HIGH PRES BEGINS TO ASSERT MORE CONTROL OVER THE REGION.
LATE IN THE EXTENDED MODEL GUIDANCE DIVERGES WITH REGARDS TO
HANDLING OF THE NEXT NRN STREAM S/WV ENERGY. HOWEVER...BOTH THE
ECMWF AND GFS RUNS FROM 00Z FEATURE A COOL DOWN FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION /14Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...WINDS CONTINUE TO DIMINISH
TODAY...BUT WILL STILL SEE GUSTS 20 KT. COASTAL AREAS LOOK TO
IMPROVE A BIT TODAY...AT LEAST TO THE IFR/MVFR BORDER IF NOT MVFR
COMPLETELY...BUT ALL SITES SHOULD SINK BACK DOWN TO IFR AGAIN
TONIGHT.

LONG TERM...MVFR OR LOWER CONDITIONS IN SHOWERS WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY AT ALL TERMINALS WITH GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT TO VFR LATE IN
THE WEEK. GUSTY SE WINDS AROUND 20 KT ARE EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
SHORT TERM...DROPPED STORM WARNING IN FAVOR OF GALE. SEAS ARE
RUNNING ABOVE GUIDANCE STILL... AND HAVE ADJUSTED UP ACCORDINGLY.
BAYS MAY SEE WINDS DROP BELOW GALE A BIT SOONER... BUT HAVE OPTED
TO GO WITH GALE EVERYWHERE UNTIL CONDITIONS SUBSIDE AS THIS SYSTEM
HAS PLENTY OF OOMPH.

LONG TERM...WINDS AND SEAS WILL LIKELY REMAIN ABOVE SMALL CRAFT
THRESHOLDS THROUGH WEDNESDAY...WITH HAZARDOUS SEAS LINGERING INTO
THURSDAY.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR MEZ007>009-012>014.
NH...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NHZ001>006.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ150>154.

&&

ES

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 30, 3:28 AM EDT, 7 hours 12 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
328 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

MEZ007>009-012>014-NHZ001>006-310730-
NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN OXFORD-
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-
NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL-
328 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

MEZ018>028-NHZ007>010-013-014-310730-
INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-
INTERIOR WALDO-COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-
KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-SULLIVAN-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-STRAFFORD-
INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-
328 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THOUGH THE REMNANTS OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN TODAY...A FEW
SHOWERS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG WITH AN
OCCASIONAL GUST TO 40 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

ANZ150>154-310730-
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-
328 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY...

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.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 30, 8:40 AM EDT, 2 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
840 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1115 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CUMBERLAND              43.80N  70.26W
10/29/2012                   CUMBERLAND         ME   PUBLIC

            3 DIAMETER TREE DOWN IN FRONT YARD

&&

EVENT NUMBER GYX1200308

POHL

Local storm report, Oct 30, 9:24 AM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
924 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG JACKSON                 44.14N  71.18W
10/29/2012                   CARROLL            NH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN ON THORNHILL ROAD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER GYX1200309

ES

Special weather statement, Oct 30, 10:29 AM EDT, 11 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1029 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

MEZ021-025-026-301515-
KENNEBEC-LINCOLN-SAGADAHOC-
1029 AM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT KENNEBEC COUNTY...SAGADAHOC
COUNTY AND LINCOLN COUNTY THROUGH 1115 AM EDT...

AT 1029 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF POPHAM BEACH STATE
PARK...OR ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF BOOTHBAY HARBOR...MOVING NORTH AT
50 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
POPHAM BEACH STATE PARK...REID STATE PARK...SOUTHPORT...PHIPPSBURG...
BOOTHBAY HARBOR...GEORGETOWN...BOOTHBAY...ARROWSIC...WESTPORT AND
WOOLWICH THROUGH 1115 AM EDT.

HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...
EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED.

LAT...LON 4374 6961 4375 6963 4380 6962 4377 6966
      4380 6970 4373 6976 4370 6976 4371 6977
      4373 6976 4372 6983 4389 6988 4395 6986
      4393 6989 4421 6999 4424 6969 4377 6957

HANES

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 30, 12:32 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	GYX	Oxford	8 hr
Oct 30, 2:52 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	GYX	Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Somerset	10 hr
Oct 30, 3:03 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	GYX	Oxford	14 hr
Oct 30, 3:37 AM EDT	Gale Warning	GYX		11 hr
Oct 30, 11:49 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	41 min
Oct 30, 12:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Somerset, Waldo	50 min
Oct 30, 2:54 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	GYX	Kennebec, Somerset, Waldo	4 hr
Oct 30, 2:55 PM EDT	Small Craft Advisory	GYX		12 hr
Oct 30, 5:10 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Waldo	65 min
Oct 30, 6:51 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	GYX	Somerset	40 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maine, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.