Flash Flood in Maine, July 30, 2003

Name: Flash Flood in Maine, July 30, 2003
Start: 2003-07-30T14:15
End: 2003-07-30T17:15
Location: Maine

July 30, 2003 · NWS CAR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

with rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches occurring in a short time. and water flooded stores along Main Street.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

Training thunderstorms produced very heavy rains across the region...with rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches occurring in a short time. The heavy rains overwhelmed drainage systems causing extensive flooding along Main Street...which was closed to traffic for a time...and water flooded stores along Main Street. Several feet of water were reported in store basements. Flooding was also reported on other roads in the Van Buren vicinity. Culverts and roads were damaged to varying extents.Above normal precipitation occurred across northern Maine during the month of July. The above normal rainfall contributed to saturated soil and unseasonably elevated water levels for area streams and brooks. This allowed smaller streams and brooks to rise rapidly in response to this heavy rain event. The Van Buren area in particular was the focus for heavy rains from this event along with several events in early August. Flash flooding was also reported in the Van Buren area on August 8th and 10th. A FEMA damage survey was conducted in late August which encompassed this event together with the flash flood events which occurred on August 8th and 10th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 30, 12:40 PM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 30, 12:40 PM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
140 PM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE EAST OF THE REGION EARLY
TONIGHT. A WEAK AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN REMAIN IN CONTROL OF
THE WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION INTO FRIDAY.

DISCUSSION...
SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-THU NIGHT)
THE MAIN CONCERN THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL BE DEALING WITH
CONVECTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH APPROACHING VORT MAX SHOWING UP VERY
NICELY IN H2O IMAGERY. THIS FEATURE WILL SWING THROUGH EXTREME
NORTHERN MAINE EARLY THIS EVENING. WILL CARRY SCATTERED RW/TRW REST
OF THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO EARLY EVENING NORTHERN ZONES. ACTIVITY
SHOULD DIMINISH QUICKLY THIS EVENING AS THE S/WV VORT MAX MOVES OFF
TO THE EAST. WILL ALSO MENTION PATCHY FOG DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT WITH
LIGHT WINDS. FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT INCREASING RIDGING
ALOFT AND HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE WILL RESULT IN DRY WEATHER.
BASICALLY USED THE ETAMATCHMOS WITH SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS THROUGH
THE PERIOD.

LONG TERM (FRI-WED)
LEANED W/A BLEND OF THE GEM/GFS FROM FRI INTO SUN & THEN I TOOK A
CONSENSUS OF THE LONG RANGE PROGS FROM MON-WED. AN AREA OF LOW PRES
WILL MOVE ACROSS DOWNEAST AREAS PER GFS/GEM FRI INTO EARLY SAT. FAR
NORTHERN MAINE LOOKS TO BE ON THE NORTHERN FRINGE OF THE PRECIP
SHIELD. BEST CHC FOR WET WX IS FROM GNR-LRG ONTO BGR & BHB. I KEPT
SLGT CHC IN THE GRIDS FOR NORTHERN SITES W/THINKING THAT SYSM COULD
EDGE FURTHER N. SYSM PULLS INTO NEW BRUNSWICK LATE SAT W/FRONTAL
BOUNDARY HANGING UP ACROSS DOWNEAST AND COASTAL AREAS. NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL AREAS SHOULD DRY OUT LATER SAT INTO SUN W/BGR-BHB REMAINING
UNSETTLED W/THREAT FOR SHRA BASED ON PROXIMITY OF THE FRONT. FOR MON
INTO WED... I KEPT NORTHERN ZONES DRY THRU THE EARLY PART OF THE
BANKING ON HIGH PRES NOSING DOWN INTO NORTHERN & CENTRAL MAINE. THEN
AS UPPER LEVEL SYSM MIGRATES EAST W/SFC LOW PRES MOVING INTO THE
CWFA...I WENT AHEAD & STAYED W/PRVS FCST OF SHRA LATE MON INTO WED.
I THREW MENTION OF TSRA TUE AFTN INTO TUE NIGHT W/WARM SECTOR &
FRONTAL SYSM APCHG. MASSAGED PRVS TEMPS DUE TO LATEST MRF/MEX. I
BOOSTED MINS MON NIGHT & TUE NIGHT W/CWFA BEING UNDER SSW FLOW &
MOIST AIRMASS.

MARINE...NO HEADLINES ANTICIPATED NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

AVIATION...EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT CAR...
PQI...HUL AIRPORTS THROUGH EARLY EVENING. OTHERWISE GENERALLY VFR
CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. THE EXCEPTION
WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME PATCHY FOG OVERNIGHT WHICH COULD
REDUCE VSBYS TO MVFR AT TIMES.

.CAR...NONE.

SHORT TERM...DUDA
LONG TERM...HEWITT

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 30, 4:22 AM EST, 9 hours 53 minutes before

MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-301200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
522 AM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NORTHERN
AND DOWNEAST MAINE...
AROOSTOOK...          HANCOCK...          NORTHERN SOMERSET...
PENOBSCOT...          PISCATAQUIS...      WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...TUNE TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR
ON THE INTERNET GO TO (LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/CAR.

VJN

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 30, 10:42 AM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes before

MEZ001>006-010-310100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1142 AM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

...THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER NORTHERN MAINE THIS AFTERNOON...

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE THIS
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING AS AN UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD
CONTAIN HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

HEWITT

Special weather statement, Jul 30, 11:18 AM EST, 2 hours 57 minutes before

MEZ001>006-010-011-031-301715-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1218 PM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED SPECIAL
WEATHER INFORMATION FOR PERSONS IN...

AT 1205 PM EDT...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK COUNTY AND EASTERN
PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15
MPH.

LOCATIONS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED THROUGH 115 PM EDT INCLUDE...
SAINT PAMPHILE...  ALLAGASH... FORT KENT... PORTAGE...
MILLINOCKET...      PATTEN...   SHERMAN...

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE...
    SMALL HAIL...SIZE OF PEAS
    GUSTY WINDS...UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR...
    HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH SOME PONDING IN LOW LYING AREAS...
    DEADLY CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING...UP TO 4 STRIKES PER MINUTE...

IF THREATENING SKIES APPROACH YOUR AREA...TAKE COVER IN A SHELTER OR
BUILDING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAN QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.

REPORT WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN CARIBOU.

LAT...LON 4705 7008 4537 6943 4552 6831 4732 6887

HEWITT
NNNN

Special weather statement, Jul 30, 12:16 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before

MEZ001-002-004>006-010-011-031-032-301815-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
116 PM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED SPECIAL
WEATHER INFORMATION FOR PERSONS IN...AROOSTOOK COUNTY AND PENOBSCOT
COUNTY.

AT 111 PM EDT...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NORTHWEST
AROOSTOOK COUNTY AND CENTRAL PENOBSCOT COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED THROUGH 215 PM EDT INCLUDE...
    RUSSEL CROSSING...    OXBOW...              DICKEY...
    ALLAGASH...           EAGLE LAKE...         MILLINOCKET...
    MEDWAY...

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE...
    HAIL...THE SIZE OF PEAS...
    GUSTY WINDS...UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR...
    VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH LOCALIZED FLOODING POSSIBLE...

IF THREATENING SKIES APPROACH YOUR AREA...TAKE COVER IN A SHELTER OR
BUILDING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAN QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS THEY
MAY BE WASHED OUT.

REPORT WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN CARIBOU.

LAT...LON 4728 6951 4674 6972 4523 6969 4556 6780
          4750 6776

CALDERON

NNNN

Special weather statement, Jul 30, 1:18 PM EST, 57 minutes before

MEZ001-002-301915-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
218 PM EDT WED JUL 30 2003

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CARIBOU HAS ISSUED SPECIAL
WEATHER INFORMATION FOR PERSONS IN...AROOSTOOK COUNTY...

AT 215 PM EDT...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM WITH
SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS 20 MILES WEST OF VAN BUREN. THE STORM WAS
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED THROUGH 315 PM EDT INCLUDE...
   GURETTE...         SAINT AGATHA...       LONG LAKE...
   GRAND ISLE...      LILLE...              VAN BUREN...

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE...
    HAIL...THE SIZE OF PEAS...
    GUSTY WINDS...UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR...
    VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH LOCALIZED FLOODING POSSIBLE...
    DEADLY CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING...UP TO 4 STRIKES PER MINUTE...

IF THREATENING SKIES APPROACH YOUR AREA...TAKE COVER IN A SHELTER OR
BUILDING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAN QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS THEY
MAY BE WASHED OUT.

REPORT WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN CARIBOU.

LAT...LON 4720 6853 4703 6845 4710 6790 4736 6802

CALDERON

NNNN

The radar

The Caribou radar (KCBW), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:14 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Aroostook

When: July 30, 2:15 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where: Aroostook County, Van Buren
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maine in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Maine, July 2003

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: 5379016.