Maine, 2003

High Wind in Maine, October 15, 2003

October 15, 2003 · NWS CAR · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

then continued through the afternoon. Around 18,000 customers lost power for varying amounts of time across northern and eastern Maine.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 CAR wrote it up.

Intensifying low pressure tracking from the Great Lakes through the Saint Lawrence River Valley produced very strong winds across the region.Winds increased quickly during the morning...then continued through the afternoon. Around 18,000 customers lost power for varying amounts of time across northern and eastern Maine. So many customers lost power across the state of Maine that the governor declared a State of Emeregency.With the leaves still on many trees and the wet soil...the winds were able to snap branches and topple trees. Many of the branches and trees knocked down power lines contributing to numerous power outages.

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, Central Piscataquis

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Central Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Interior Hancock

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Interior Hancock forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northeast Aroostook

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Northeast Aroostook forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Piscataquis

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Somerset

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Somerset forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.514, -69.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northwest Aroostook

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Aroostook forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.659, -68.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Penobscot

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Penobscot forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Piscataquis

When
October 15, 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
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 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, October 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5336105, 5336106, 5336107, 5336108, 5336109, 5336110, 5336111, 5336112.