Alert archive / Maine / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2021

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 78, NWS Gray, ME

July 23, 2021Cumberland County, Maine

NWS Gray, ME issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 23, 2021, 6:17 PM EDT for Cumberland County, Maine. It was in force for 43 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jul 23, 2021, 6:17 PM EDT (22:17 UTC)
Expired: Jul 23, 2021, 7:00 PM EDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Gray, ME
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Cumberland County, ME

The radar

The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:20 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 23, 6:20 PM EDT	HAIL 0.5	2 Wsw Falmouth, ME	REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.).
Jul 23, 6:25 PM EDT	HAIL 0.5	2 S Westbrook, ME	REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.) TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
Jul 23, 6:30 PM EDT	HAIL 0.5	Portland, ME	TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

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, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 30 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: 16 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1504 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -5 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

075 
WUUS51 KGYX 232217
SVRGYX
MEC005-232300-
/O.NEW.KGYX.SV.W.0078.210723T2217Z-210723T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Gray ME
617 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

The National Weather Service in Gray Maine has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  South central Cumberland County in southwestern Maine...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 616 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near the north 
  side of Portland, moving southeast at 20 mph. This storm will 
  likely affect the city of Portland and nearby areas.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Cumberland, Gorham, Falmouth,
  Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Yarmouth, Chebeague Island, North
  Yarmouth and Windham.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 295 between mile markers 1 and 16.
 Interstate 95 between mile markers 44 and 56.

This also includes...
  Higgins Beach and Crescent Beach State Park.
  Peaks Island, Long Island, Cushing Island, Cousins Island, and
Great Diamond Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4373 7043 4383 7021 4363 7001 4362 7005
      4357 7010 4358 7016 4354 7016 4351 7020
      4350 7028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 325DEG 18KT 4370 7030 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Kimble

1 follow-up statement

741 
WWUS51 KGYX 232232
SVSGYX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
632 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

MEC005-232300-
/O.CON.KGYX.SV.W.0078.000000T0000Z-210723T2300Z/
Cumberland ME-
632 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTY...

At 632 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Downtown 
Portland, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Cumberland, Falmouth, Cape
Elizabeth, Scarborough, Yarmouth and Chebeague Island.

This also includes...
  Higgins Beach and Crescent Beach State Park.
  Peaks Island, Long Island, Cushing Island, Cousins Island, and
Great Diamond Island.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 295 between mile markers 1 and 14.
 Interstate 95 between mile markers 44 and 51.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4367 7039 4379 7017 4363 7001 4362 7005
      4357 7010 4358 7016 4354 7016 4351 7020
      4350 7028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 323DEG 18KT 4364 7025 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Kimble

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 23, 3:36 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 3:36 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Gray ME
336 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are across the region this
afternoon and will wane as the sunsets. High pressure will build
in with clear skies tomorrow. A front will approach the region
overnight Saturday and cross the area on Sunday morning bringing
widespread rain and thunder.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING/...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms persist across the region
this afternoon as upper level trough keeps freezing levels low.
Most of these storms are Pulse type, quick to intensify and
quick to pass. With the low freezing levels have had reports of
hail and expect some very isolated wind damage with the
strongest cores collapsing. Convective initiation is very much
tied to the diurnal heating and thus expect the reverse later
this evening with coverage rapidly decreasing after sunset. HRRR
has done a good job with the timing and general coverage of the
convection and have leaned on it for the PoP for the next
several hours.

&&

.SHORT TERM /8 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
Overnight after storms decrease we'll see clear skies.
Satellite reveals a broad area of dry air to our west and expect
temperatures to fall rapidly as a result. Lows will drop the low
50s with some northern valleys in the 40s. While it's generally
dry, midday dew points are in the 50s and expect fog to form in
the CT river valley, and possibly up into the northern
Androscoggin.

For Saturday expect clear skies with high pressure. A robust
seabreeze will likely push inland as far as Sebago lake and keep
temperatures cooler along the coast.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Low pressure will be passing well north of the area as it travels
through central Quebec Sunday morning, with a warm front associated
with the system approaching the area at this time. Widespread shower
ahead of the front will be ongoing Sunday morning. The rain will
mostly end across western New Hampshire by the early afternoon as
the region tries to break into the warm sector behind the warm
front. The warm air is notoriously stubborn to actually make it in
with these type of set ups, but if and where it does make will stand
the best chance of seeing a few stronger thunderstorms Sunday
afternoon as the cold front approaches. Areas farther east into
Maine will likely hold onto the showers for more of the afternoon
hours, thus minimizing the risk of storms across these areas.

The front will most likely be clearing the coastline by Monday
morning, with our trough dominated pattern continuing for the
foreseeable future. Next week will continue to be characterized by
temperatures generally near to below normal, with frontal passages
roughly every other day and broad surface high pressure in between.

High pressure looks to be in control for Monday, with seasonable
highs and mainly sunny skies. A cold front will approach later
Tuesday, likely brining a round of afternoon showers and
thunderstorms. The front will likely clear the area on Wednesday,
yielding clearing and improving conditions during the daytime
on Wednesday as weak high pressure builds into the area for
Wednesday night and Thursday. Another front will likely approach
the area by late next week, but it's too early to tell and
there is significant model divergence on where and when the low
will track through, so at this time I'm keeping an increased
chance of POP's for the end of the time period.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Short Term...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are ongoing
across the region and may briefly impact CON MHT PSM through the
next few hours. Showers will end after sunset with valley fog in
the CT river impacting HIE and LEB overnight. Sunny skies and
VFR will continue through the day on Saturday.

Long Term...
Widespread showers will bring restrictions Sunday morning,
lasting through most of the afternoon across eastern terminals,
while western terminals see a period of VFR/MVFR conditions Sunday
starting late morning before scattered thunderstorms develop in the
late afternoon hours. VFR conditions return Monday, with
another chance of showers and storms returning Tuesday
afternoon. VFR conditions likely return later on Wednesday.

&&

.MARINE...
Short Term... Few scattered thunderstorms will move over Casco
Bay and the midcoast for the next few hours. Otherwise calm
winds and seas will hold through the start of the weekend.

Long Term...
A front will cross the region on Sunday morning with rain, and
thunderstorms. Winds will go NW behind the front.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
High astronomical tides will bring water levels just to minor
flood stage across New Hampshire and southwest Maine. With calm
seas and little wave action have opted for a Coastal Flood
statement to highlight the elevated water levels.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...
NEAR TERM...Curtis
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...Clair/Legro
AVIATION...
MARINE...
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 3:06 AM EDT, 15 hours 11 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Gray ME
306 AM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

MEZ023-024-NHZ014-240715-
Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Coastal Rockingham-
306 AM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Maine and southern
New Hampshire.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Astronomical tides peak tonight and given that recent tides have
managed to rise a little higher than predicted some minor flooding is
possible in the low lying areas from Portland south to the Seacoast.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MEZ007>009-012>014-018>022-025>028-033-NHZ001>013-015-240715-
Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford-
Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior York-
Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec-Interior Waldo-
Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-Coastal Waldo-Interior Cumberland Highlands-
Northern Coos-Southern Coos-Northern Grafton-Northern Carroll-
Southern Grafton-Southern Carroll-Sullivan-Merrimack-Belknap-
Strafford-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-Interior Rockingham-
Western And Central Hillsborough-
306 AM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Maine, south central Maine,
southwest Maine, west central Maine, western Maine, New Hampshire,
central New Hampshire, northern New Hampshire and southern New
Hampshire.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

ANZ150>154-240715-
Coastal Waters from Stonington, ME to Port Clyde, ME out 25 NM-
Penobscot Bay-
Coastal Waters from Port Clyde, ME to Cape Elizabeth, ME out 25 NM-
Casco Bay-
Coastal Waters from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Merrimack River, MA out
25 NM-
306 AM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 23, 5:31 PM EDT, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
531 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2021

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

0500 PM     HAIL             3 S HOPKINTON           43.14N 71.67W
07/23/2021  M1.25 INCH       HILLSBOROUGH       NH   PUBLIC

            OCCURRED AT HOPKINTON RESERVOIR.

&&

TUBBS

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 5:59 PM EDT, 18 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
559 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

NHZ002-003-232230-
Northern Grafton-Southern Coos-
559 PM EDT Fri Jul 23 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN COOS AND
NORTHEASTERN GRAFTON COUNTIES...

At 559 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of
Lancaster, moving south at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Bethlehem, Franconia, Carroll, Jefferson and Whitefield.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 4439 7160 4443 7144 4423 7133 4418 7158
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 352DEG 14KT 4437 7150

MSC

Local storm report, Jul 23, 6:02 PM EDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
602 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2021

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

0215 PM     HAIL             WEST BALDWIN            43.83N 70.78W
07/23/2021  E0.25 INCH       CUMBERLAND         ME   PUBLIC

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

TUBBS

Local storm report, Jul 23, 6:04 PM EDT, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
604 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2021

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

0600 PM     HAIL             CUMBERLAND              43.80N 70.26W
07/23/2021  E0.25 INCH       CUMBERLAND         ME   PUBLIC

&&

TUBBS

Local storm report, Jul 23, 6:07 PM EDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
607 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2021

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

0555 PM     HAIL             4 NW CUMBERLAND         43.83N 70.32W
07/23/2021  E0.70 INCH       CUMBERLAND         ME   PUBLIC

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

TUBBS

Local storm report, Jul 23, 6:13 PM EDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
613 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2021

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

0550 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 W POWNAL              43.89N 70.25W
07/23/2021  M30 MPH          CUMBERLAND         ME   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

TUBBS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 23, 12:20 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	25 min
Jul 23, 12:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	31 min
Jul 23, 12:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	37 min
Jul 23, 12:47 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Oxford	28 min
Jul 23, 12:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	York	33 min
Jul 23, 1:05 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin	25 min
Jul 23, 1:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	36 min
Jul 23, 1:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin	30 min
Jul 23, 1:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	34 min
Jul 23, 1:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	30 min
Jul 23, 1:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Cumberland, Oxford, York	27 min
Jul 23, 2:05 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Sagadahoc	25 min
Jul 23, 2:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	36 min
Jul 23, 2:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	York	27 min
Jul 23, 2:16 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GYX		26 min
Jul 23, 2:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Somerset	39 min
Jul 23, 2:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Oxford, York	51 min
Jul 23, 2:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Cumberland, Sagadahoc	25 min
Jul 23, 2:56 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GYX		34 min
Jul 23, 3:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Cumberland, Sagadahoc	32 min
Jul 23, 3:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford	41 min
Jul 23, 3:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Kennebec, Somerset	23 min
Jul 23, 3:27 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GYX		48 min
Jul 23, 3:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin	26 min
Jul 23, 3:39 PM EDT	Coastal Flood Statement	GYX	Cumberland, York	10 hr
Jul 23, 3:39 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GYX		66 min
Jul 23, 3:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Knox	34 min
Jul 23, 4:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin	30 min
Jul 23, 4:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin	36 min
Jul 23, 4:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Oxford	31 min
Jul 23, 4:22 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Kennebec	23 min
Jul 23, 4:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Androscoggin, Kennebec	31 min
Jul 23, 4:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford	33 min
Jul 23, 5:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Lincoln	22 min
Jul 23, 5:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	Cumberland, Sagadahoc	32 min
Jul 23, 5:35 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Cumberland, Oxford	18 min
Jul 23, 5:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GYX	Cumberland	37 min
Jul 23, 6:19 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	GYX		56 min
Jul 23, 6:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	30 min
Jul 23, 6:57 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	18 min
Jul 23, 7:06 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GYX	York	24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maine, 2021 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2021

Sources

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