Maine, 1998

Flooding in Maine, June 16 to 20, 1998

June 16 to 20, 1998 · NWS GYX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

One to three inches of rain caused mainstem rivers to rise above flood stage in the southwestern part of the state. The Saco River crested just under 31,000 CFS at West Buxton, flood flow is 27,000 cfs.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$185,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

One to three inches of rain caused mainstem rivers to rise above flood stage in the southwestern part of the state. The Saco River crested just under 31,000 CFS at West Buxton, flood flow is 27,000 cfs. In the town of Buxton, roads were closed due to the high water. In Saco, 130 people were evacuated when a housing development was flooded due to the river. At Auburn, the Androscoggin River crested at 14 feet, one foot above the 13 ft. flood stage. The Presumpscot at Westbrook crested at 17.1 feet, more than 2 feet above the 15 ft flood stage. The Kennebec River at Skowhegan crested at 39314 cfs. Flood flow is 35,000 cfs.

The radar

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

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Event by event

5 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Coastal Cumberland

When
June 16, 3:30 PM EST to June 19, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Androscoggin

When
June 17, 7:30 AM EST to June 18, 9:30 AM EST
Where
Androscoggin forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Coastal York

When
June 17, 8:00 AM EST to June 20, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal York forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Interior York

When
June 17, 8:00 AM EST to June 20, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Interior York forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southern Somerset

When
June 17, 9:00 AM EST to June 18, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Somerset forecast zone
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
45.514, -69.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maine in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, June 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: 5675816, 5675815, 5675817, 5675818, 5675819.