Ice Storm, Central Penobscot
- When
- February 19, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Central Penobscot forecast zone
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Ice Storm in Maine, February 19, 1998
A large low pressure area in the Ohio Valley and a developing low off the New England Coast brought rain and freezing rain to parts of Eastern Maine. The greatest accretions of freezing rain occurred in elevated areas of southeastern Aroostook, central Penobscot, and northern Washington Counties.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
A large low pressure area in the Ohio Valley and a developing low off the New England Coast brought rain and freezing rain to parts of Eastern Maine. The greatest accretions of freezing rain occurred in elevated areas of southeastern Aroostook, central Penobscot, and northern Washington Counties. About 6700 homes in rural areas lost power during the storm; some remained without power for up to 5 days.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Ice Storm, Interior Washington
- When
- February 19, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Interior Washington forecast zone
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Ice Storm, Southeast Aroostook
- When
- February 19, 1:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Southeast Aroostook forecast zone
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Ice Storm
- Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Lightning Strike in Louisiana, February 19, 1998
- Flooding in Florida, February 19 to 20, 1998
- Hail in Louisiana, February 19, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Florida, February 19, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Florida, February 19, 1998
- Tornado in Florida, February 19, 1998
- Hail in Louisiana, February 19, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Florida, February 19, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Florida, February 19, 1998
- Heavy Snow in California, February 19 to 20, 1998
- High Wind in Alaska, February 19, 1998
- Cold in Alaska, February 19 to 21, 1998
More
Every storm in Maine in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, February 1998
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: 5654466, 5654467, 5654468.