A very strong cold front raced across New Hampshire and western Maine on Friday, the 17th of February. Wind gusts of 60 mph or more were common with and following the frontal passage.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.
A very strong cold front raced across New Hampshire and western Maine on Friday, the 17th of February. Wind gusts of 60 mph or more were common with and following the frontal passage. Widespread damage occurred throughout the state with the majority of the destruction due to falling trees. Several roofs were also damage or blown off. Total damage amounted to $125,000. In addition 150,000 homes and businesses were left without power.
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 Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 9:20 AM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
920 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006
.SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY)...
THE ZONE FORECASTS WILL BE UPDATING THIS MORNING TO ACCOUNT FOR
TRENDS...BUT NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE EXPECTED AS WE AWAIT THE
WIND EVENT THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.
CURRENTLY...THE LAST OF THE COLD AIR IS BEING SCOURED OUT OF THE
NORTHEAST ZONES AS THE INCREASING GRADIENT ERODES IT FROM THE TOP.
ELSEWHERE...THE COLD AIR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY ELIMINATED AT THE
SURFACE. THE 12Z GYX SOUNDINGS SHOWS A FAIRLY STRONG INVERSION
STILL IN PLACE...BUT SOME LOCATIONS ARE ALREADY STARTING TO GUST
TO 35 MPH IN THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW.
THE INVERSION IS STILL INTACT AT ALY AS WELL...BUT JUST TO THE
WEST THE FRONT IS BREAKING THE INVERSION. WE HAVE NOTED GUSTS TO
67 KT AT ROC AND 54 KT AT SYR SO FAR THIS MORNING...WITH AND JUST
BEHIND THE FRONT. IN THE MID LEVELS...THE WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A
VERY STRONG SHORT WAVE ACROSS EASTERN PA...WITH RAPID DRYING AND
STRONG DOWNWARD VERTICAL VELOCITY.
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES EXPECTED TO THE FORECAST. MODEL SOUNDINGS
STILL SHOW 60 TO 70 KNOTS AVAILABLE IN THE MIXED LAYER ABOUT AN
HOUR AHEAD OF THE FRONT...AND CONTINUING BEHIND THE FRONT FOR A
FEW HOURS. THE LATEST RUC SOUNDINGS STILL SHOW NEARLY VERTICAL
POTENTIAL TEMPERATURE PROFILES WITH THE FRONT...AND WITH THE
VERIFICATION TO THE WEST SO FAR THIS MORNING...WILL UP THE MAXIMUM
WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 70 MPH.
BASED ON THE POTENTIAL AND WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO THE WEST
THIS MORNING...THE EVENT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD POWER
OUTAGES AND TREE DAMAGE. THE UPDATED HIGH WIND WARNING STATEMENT
HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT.
THE CHANGE TO SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE MAY
BE QUITE RAPID WITH CRASHING HEIGHTS AND TEMPERATURES...AND WILL
INDICATE THIS IN THE UPDATE. ELSEWHERE...QPF AMOUNTS SHOULD BE
LIMITED BY THE QUICK MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT.
&&
.MARINE...
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HERE THIS MORNING.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 537 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006)
SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...QUICK UPDATE
WAS TO CANCEL THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND
NORTHERNMOST NEW HAMPSHIRE. WARM AIR WILL CONTINUE TO ENTER THE
REGION THIS MORNING. WINDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. FIRST BAND OF
RAIN RACING IN FROM THE WEST EARLY THIS MORNING.
ALL HIGH WIND WARNINGS FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING REMAIN IN
PLACE.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 248 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006)
SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...WILL LEAVE ADVISORIES
IN PLACE FOR THE MOUNTAINS WHICH ARE DUE TO EXPIRE AT 12Z.
HIGH WIND WARNINGS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE AND THERE WILL BE NO
CHANGES TO THE WIND FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
EXPECT SOME VERY HIGH WIND GUSTS...MAINLY ALONG AND SHORTLY AFTER
THE COLD FROPA. ONLY CHANGES TO THE SHORT TERM ARE TO INCREASE MAX
TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY AS READINGS ALREADY IN THE 40S AND
LOWER 50S ACROSS PORTIONS OF OUR FORECAST AREA.
LONG TERM (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...
THE WEEKEND LOOKS TO HAVE THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SETTLING
OVER THE AREA. CONDITIONS WILL BE DRY. THE PATTERN CONTINUES TO
LOOK UNEVENTFUL THROUGH THE WEEK WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES
GRADUALLY MODERATING MID TO LATE IN THE WEEK. NO MAJOR STORMS ON
THE HORIZON THRU NEXT THURSDAY.
AVIATION...MAINLY VFR...LOWERING TO IFR THIS MORNING. POSSIBLY A
RUMBLE OF THUNDER WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT.
MARINE...STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN PLACE. NO CHANGES TO FORECAST
PHILOSOPHY THIS PACKAGE.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028 UNTIL 10 PM
FRIDAY.
NH...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR NHZ001>010-013-014 UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY.
MARINE...STORM WARNING FOR ANZ150 UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 311 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-180815- NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET- SOUTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-INTERIOR YORK- INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO- COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX- COASTAL WALDO-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON- NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL-SULLIVAN- MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM- COASTAL ROCKINGHAM- 311 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN MAINE... CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY. BY AFTERNOON...WIND GUSTS WILL APPROACH 60 MPH ACROSS WESTERN MAINE AND MUCH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. AN ABRUPT WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST ASSOCIATED WITH A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THEREFORE...A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM NOON TODAY UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT. EXPECT SOME POWER OUTAGES DUE TO DOWNED TREES OR TREE LIMBS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 828 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 MEZ008-009-171630- NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AVON...CARRABASSETT VALLEY... COBURN GORE...DALLAS...DAVIS...EUSTIS...KINGFIELD...BINGHAM 828 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...LOCALLY SLICK TRAVEL POSSIBLE THIS MORNING... TEMPERATURES ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTIES WERE STILL NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING AT 800 AM. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MAINE. WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEAR FREEZING THROUGH 1000 AM...THE RAIN MAY FREEZE ON CONTACT WITH COLDER SURFACES THROUGH THAT TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOCALLY SLICK TRAVEL THROUGH 1000 AM...ESPECIALLY IN VALLEY LOCATIONS...PROTECTED FROM THE WIND. AFTER 1000 AM...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING AS WINDS INCREASE. IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGH NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTIES THIS MORNING...BE ON THE ALERT FOR LOCALLY SLICK DRIVING AND WALKING CONDITIONS. HAYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 946 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 MEZ007-012-NHZ001>006-171800- NORTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS- NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON- SOUTHERN CARROLL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANDOVER...BYRON...MIDDLE DAM... ROXBURY...SOUTH ARM...UPTON...WILSONS MILLS...RUMFORD...NORWAY... SOUTH PARIS...MEXICO...FRYEBURG...OXFORD...LITTLETON... NORTH CONWAY...CONWAY...LEBANON...HANOVER...PLYMOUTH...WOLFEBORO 946 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...GUSTY WINDS IN SHOWERS THIS MORNING... AT 940 AM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED DEVELOPING SHOWERS WITH HEAVY RAIN STRETCHING FROM ERROL IN COOS COUNTY SOUTH TO FRANKLIN IN MERRIMACK COUNTY. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS FALLING FROM LITTLETON TO GROTON. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO 45 MPH AT TIMES WITH THE SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND OXFORD COUNTY MAINE BETWEEN 945 AM TO 1115 AM. THESE WINDS COULD RESULT IN DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. STRONGER WINDS...POSSIBLY GUSTING TO NEAR 70 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE WITH A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE LATER THIS AFTERNOON. A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT. HAYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 1023 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 NHZ003-005-007-171830- NORTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SULLIVAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLETON...LEBANON...HANOVER... PLYMOUTH...CLAREMONT...NEWPORT 1023 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...STRONG WINDS ARE APPROACHING THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF WEST CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE... AT 1015 AM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AT LINE OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM CENTRAL VERMONT SOUTH INTO EASTERN NEW YORK STATE. THIS LINE REPRESENTS THE ONSET OF THE STRONG WINDS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY FROM GROTON SOUTH TO CHARLESTOWN BETWEEN 1100 AM AND NOON. DURING THE TIME...PLACES LIKE WOODSVILLE... PIERMONT...ORFORD...PLAINFIELD AND CLAREMONT COULD SEE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES AS THE LINE OF SHOWERS APPROACHES. IN ADDITION...WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS THIS STRONG WILL RESULT IN DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES...WHICH IN TURN WILL CAUSE SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT...MARKING THE LEADING EDGE OF MUCH COLDER AIR...ARRIVES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HAYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 1040 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 MEZ012-018-019-023-024-NHZ010-013-014-171845- SOUTHERN OXFORD-INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-COASTAL YORK- COASTAL CUMBERLAND-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM- COASTAL ROCKINGHAM- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RUMFORD...NORWAY...SOUTH PARIS... MEXICO...FRYEBURG...OXFORD...NORTH WINDHAM...GORHAM...BRIDGTON... BIDDEFORD...SACO...OLD ORCHARD BEACH...PORTLAND... SOUTH PORTLAND...WESTBROOK...ROCHESTER...DOVER...DURHAM...DERRY... LONDONDERRY...EXETER...PORTSMOUTH...HAMPTON 1040 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS LATE THIS MORNING... AT 1030 AM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING FROM SHELBURNE NEW HAMPSHIRE SOUTH TO NEAR ROCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE. AS THIS AREA CROSSES OXFORD...YORK AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES IN WESTERN MAINE THROUGH NOON. AS THE SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CROSS THE REGION...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 60 MPH...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF OXFORD AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES. IN ADDITION A FEW CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES...AS WELL AS BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED. A STRONG COLD FRONT...MARKING THE LEADING EDGE OF MUCH COLDER WEATHER...WILL ARRIVE DURING THE AFTERNOON. WINDS MAY GUST TO 70 MPH AS THE FRONT CROSSES THE REGION. HAYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 1142 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 NHZ001>003-005-007-171945- NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN GRAFTON- SULLIVAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLETON...LEBANON...HANOVER... PLYMOUTH...CLAREMONT...NEWPORT 1142 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...STRONG WINDS ARE ARRIVING IN WESTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE... THE COLD FRONT BRINGING MUCH COLDER AIR TO THE REGION WILL MOVE THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE FRONT CROSS...WEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 25 TO 35 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN. WINDS THIS STRONG WILL RESULT IN DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES...WHICH WILL IN TURN CAUSE POWER OUTAGES. SHOWERS AND A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON EVEN AFTER THE FRONT PASSES. ADDITIONAL WIND DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES CAN BE EXPECTED. A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 1000 PM. NHZ004-006-008>010-013-171945- NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN CARROLL-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-STRAFFORD- INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NORTH CONWAY...CONWAY...WOLFEBORO... CONCORD...LACONIA...TILTON-NORTHFIELD...MEREDITH...ROCHESTER... DOVER...DURHAM...DERRY...LONDONDERRY...EXETER 1142 AM EST FRI FEB 17 2006 ...STRONG WINDS WILL ARRIVE IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON... THE COLD FRONT BRINGING MUCH COLDER AIR TO THE REGION WILL MOVE THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE FRONT CROSSES THE REGION BETWEEN NOON AND 1 PM...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND INCREASE TO 25 TO 35 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN. WINDS THIS STRONG WILL RESULT IN DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES...WHICH WILL IN TURN CAUSE POWER OUTAGES. SHOWERS AND A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON EVEN AFTER THE FRONT PASSES. ADDITIONAL WIND DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES CAN BE EXPECTED. A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 1000 PM. HAYES
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, February 2006
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: 5490240, 5490348, 5490350, 5490351, 5490359, 5490241, 5490242, 5490346, 5490349, 5490352, 5490353, 5490354, 5490355, 5490357, 5490358, 5490347, 5490356.