Maine, 2000

High Wind in Maine, December 17 to 18, 2000

December 17 to 18, 2000 · NWS CAR · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A rapidly intensifying low tracking through the St. Lawrence River Valley during the 17th exited the Gulf of St.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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
12

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 CAR wrote it up.

A rapidly intensifying low tracking through the St. Lawrence River Valley during the 17th exited the Gulf of St. Lawrence early on the 18th. Very strong winds accompanied the passage of the low. Maximum wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common across much of the region...with wind gusts to around 80 mph reported offshore. The strongest winds generally occurred during the morning of the 18th.Numerous trees...branches and powerlines were downed during this event. Tree damage was particularly severe across northern portions of the region. Roof damage was reported to many sturctures across the region...with trees toppled onto some structures and vehicles. A 250 foot radio tower was blown over near Caribou. Extensive damage was also reported to street signs...billboards and fences across the region. Tens of thousands of people were without power at various times during the event.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Central Penobscot

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Central Penobscot forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coastal Hancock

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Hancock forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coastal Washington

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Coastal Washington forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Interior Hancock

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Hancock forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Interior Washington

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Washington forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
44.970, -67.609 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northeast Aroostook

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northeast Aroostook forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Penobscot

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Penobscot forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Piscataquis

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northwest Aroostook

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Aroostook forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Aroostook

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Aroostook forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Penobscot

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Penobscot forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Piscataquis

When
December 17, 12:00 PM EST to December 18, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, December 2000

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: 5159877, 5159878, 5159879, 5159880, 5159881, 5159882, 5159883, 5159884, 5159885, 5159886, 5159887, 5159888.