Alert archive / Maine / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Caribou, ME
NWS Caribou, ME issued this flash flood warning at Jun 21, 2026, 2:56 PM EDT for Piscataquis County, Maine. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jun 21, 2026, 2:56 PM EDT (18:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 21, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Caribou, ME
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Piscataquis County, ME
The radar
The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 142 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:59 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood 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, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 142 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 56 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -49 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1159 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 5 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -35 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -46 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
165
WGUS51 KCAR 211856
FFWCAR
MEC021-212100-
/O.NEW.KCAR.FF.W.0004.260621T1856Z-260621T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Caribou ME
256 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Caribou has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southern Piscataquis County in north central Maine...
* Until 500 PM EDT.
* At 256 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of
rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Parkman and Wellington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4511 6952 4506 6943 4506 6949 4505 6950
4504 6950 4503 6952 4502 6952 4502 6955
4502 6956 4508 6958
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SM2 follow-up statements
806
WGUS71 KCAR 212018
FFSCAR
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
418 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
MEC021-212100-
/O.CON.KCAR.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260621T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Piscataquis ME-
418 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...
At 418 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms produced heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Parkman and Wellington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4511 6952 4506 6943 4506 6949 4505 6950
4504 6950 4503 6952 4502 6952 4502 6955
4502 6956 4508 6958
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
SM941
WGUS71 KCAR 212056
FFSCAR
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
456 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
MEC021-212106-
/O.EXP.KCAR.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260621T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Piscataquis ME-
456 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING AT 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHERN
PISCATAQUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD ADVISORY...
&&
LAT...LON 4511 6952 4506 6943 4506 6949 4505 6950
4504 6950 4503 6952 4502 6952 4502 6955
4502 6956 4508 6958
$$
SMWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Caribou, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 21, 5:39 AM EDT, 9 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Slow moving showers and thunderstorms today could lead to localized significant rainfall. 2) A low pressure system passes through the region Monday night into Tuesday, while track remains uncertain. 3) Prolonged troughing in the Northeast will lead to multiple rounds of showers and storms this week.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 21, 5:39 AM EDT, 9 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 539 AM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... - 6 AM Update: Increasing confidence in patchy to areas of fog developing tonight, especially in areas which receive rain today. Adjustments made to the aviation section below with the 12z TAFs. - Increasing confidence in track and timing of low Monday night into Tuesday. - Increased winds and gusts with the Monday night system. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Slow moving showers and thunderstorms today could lead to localized significant rainfall. 2) A low pressure system passes through the region Monday night into Tuesday, while track remains uncertain. 3) Prolonged troughing in the Northeast will lead to multiple rounds of showers and storms this week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...Slow moving showers and thunderstorms today could lead to localized significant rainfall. KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION... Continued instability under the broad upper level trough will support diurnal showers and storm development through the day today. For the Central Highlands down through the Interior Downeast region, 500 to 1000 J/kg of CAPE could be available for supporting convective growth. Forecast soundings present this CAPE in a tall, skinny manner, which can be indicative of support for efficient rainfall processes. Additionally, PWATs are forecast to sit around 1.1 to 1.2 inches. KCAR PWAT climatology for today has 1.06 inches for the 75th percentile, and 1.28 inches for the 90th percentile, with the forecast PWAT for today falling between these two percentiles and being marginal for efficient rainfall potential. Since the highest CAPE values support convection closer to the Bangor region, will consider the KGYX PWAT climatology for today as well, which has 1.22 inches for the 75th percentile and 1.47 inches for the 90th percentile, so the forecast values for the Bangor area fall a little short of the prime target for efficient rainfall potential, which would be exceeding the 90th percentile. Forecast warm cloud layer from forecast soundings is also below what would be needed for efficient rainfall potential, with warm cloud layer being forecast at around 5 kft, half of the 10 kft that is textbook for tropical type rainfall rates. Of highest concern though, given all that has been discussed above, is the storm motion. With little to no steering flow, any showers and storms that develop will be slow to move, and likely to collapse near where they developed, leading to any moderate rainfall to occur over the same area through the life of the shower or storm. This environment could lead to localized significant rainfall that may even result in localized ponding in any poorly drained areas. Flash flood guidance does remain high in the primary area of concern, with 1 hour FFG of 1.3 to 2 inches and 3 hour FFG 2 to 3 inches. KEY MESSAGE 2...A low pressure system passes through the region Monday night into Tuesday, while track remains uncertain. KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION... Shortwave moves through region Monday afternoon into Tuesday evening. With this system, moisture quickly increases throughout Maine, and rain showers, with an isolated thunderstorm, are possible, mainly to the north. Models seem to favor the general path of the low pressure staying just south of Maine, but there is uncertainty in the exact track. Models have better agreement on timing of system. Models that seem to have a more southern low pressure system, bring less precipitation to the Downeast region, while models favoring a farther north low pressure system, bring more precipitation to the Downeast region. Global models seem to be trending northeast with the low, bringing more rain to the coastline. Stuck with the NBM again for this update, since it shows the general trend well between models. The best chance for precipitation is going to be interior and coastal Downeast, with gradually lighter showers expanding farther inland. How far inland the precipitation reaches, is going to depend on the track. Looking at between 1 to 1.5 inches of rain possible Downeast. Minimal instability could lead to some isolated thunderstorms in the Central Highlands and northern regions Monday afternoon as the low approaches from the southwest. Southerly flow should keep Downeast stable enough to avoid convection. Around 500 J/kg of CAPE, and some decent low-level lapse rates could get some thunder rumbles over the region in the afternoon. Decreased thunder chances however, since shear and helicity look weak, and some CIN is present. Will have to continue to monitor to see how trends progress. KEY MESSAGE 3...Prolonged troughing in the Northeast will lead to multiple rounds of showers and storms this week. KEY MESSAGE 3 DESCRIPTION... Positive PNA pattern over the Atlantic parks a high pressure system over the west, resulting in prolonged troughing over the region, with multiple rounds of rain showers moving through. Cool temperatures generally in the 70s. Overnight lows generally in the 50s. Prolonged trough results in multiple rounds of showers, with chances for thunderstorms each afternoon. && .AVIATION /09Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Today...VFR conditions continue across all terminals. Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, particularly from KGNR down through KBGR and throughout the Downeast region. Winds light and variable. Tonight...Mostly VFR conditions continue across all terminals, though there is increasing likelihood of fog building in after midnight, limiting visibility to IFR/LIFR late at terminals which see rainfall during the day. Winds light and variable. Monday - Monday night...MVFR/IFR in rain showers at all terminals, and with a chance of thunderstorms at KFVE/KCAR/KPQI/KHUL. S winds at 5 to 10 kts, becoming E at 5 to 10 kts overnight. Fog possible at all terminals Monday night, with KBGR and KBHB possibly in thicker fog. Tuesday - Tuesday night... MVFR/IFR in rain showers at all terminals, and with a chance of thunderstorms at KFVE/KCAR/KPQI/KHUL. Improving to VFR late afternoon, though fog could lower visibility at all terminals Tuesday night. E/SE winds at 5 to 10 kts, gusting to 15 to 20 kts, shifting to NW 5 to 10 kts. Wednesday - Wednesday night...Mainly VFR. Possible MVFR at KFVE/KCAR/KPQI/KHUL in the afternoon with showers and chance of thunderstorms. NW winds at 5 to 10 kts. Become light and variable overnight. Thursday...Possible MVFR at KFVE/KCAR/KPQI/KHUL, in the afternoon with showers and chance of thunderstorms. S/SE winds at 5 - 10 kts. && .MARINE... Winds remain below 25 kts and seas less than 5 ft across all waters today through tonight. Below SCA conditions Monday. Seas creep up to 5 ft on Tuesday into Wednesday. Rain and patchy fog Monday night into Tuesday. Chance for thunderstorms Tuesday. Winds early Tuesday could be about 20 kt, with some gusts 25 kt to near 30 kt. S winds on Monday, shift to the NW on Tuesday night. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && DISCUSSION...AES/JMM AVIATION...AES/JMM
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jun 21, 2:04 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
204 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
MEZ016-029-211845-
Interior Hancock ME-Coastal Hancock ME-
204 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN HANCOCK COUNTY
THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
At 204 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Blue Hill, moving southeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Penobscot Township, Orland, Trenton, and Surry.
This includes US Highway 1 near Ellsworth.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4447 6870 4462 6860 4451 6830 4434 6849
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 299DEG 6KT 4447 6852
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Caribou, ME issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1:40 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAR | Aroostook | 13 min |
| Jun 21, 1:53 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CAR | Aroostook | 3 hr |
| Jun 21, 2:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAR | Hancock | 41 min |
| Jun 21, 2:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAR | Hancock | 45 min |
| Jun 21, 2:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAR | Hancock | 5 hr |
| Jun 21, 2:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAR | Penobscot | 40 min |
| Jun 21, 4:13 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAR | Washington | 3 hr |
| Jun 21, 4:25 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAR | Washington | 96 min |
| Jun 21, 4:56 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAR | Piscataquis | 2 hr |
| Jun 21, 5:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAR | Hancock | 48 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Maine, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
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.