Maine, 1997

High Wind in Maine, March 6, 1997

March 6, 1997 · NWS GYX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Strong winds associated with a low pressure center that developed off the New England coast caused damage throughout parts of southwestern Maine. Statewide, about 15,000 customers lost electrical service during the event as trees and tree limbs fell onto power lines.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

Strong winds associated with a low pressure center that developed off the New England coast caused damage throughout parts of southwestern Maine. Statewide, about 15,000 customers lost electrical service during the event as trees and tree limbs fell onto power lines. In parts of coastal Washington County, the winds also snapped utility poles.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Southern Oxford

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Oxford forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.500, -70.757 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Interior York

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Interior York forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Interior Cumberland

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Androscoggin

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Androscoggin forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Kennebec

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Kennebec forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.409, -69.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coastal York

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal York forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coastal Cumberland

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coastal Washington

When
March 6, 7:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Washington forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maine in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, March 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5624820, 5624821, 5624822, 5624823, 5624824, 5624825, 5624826, 5624827.