Maine, 2008Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008
April 30, 2008 · NWS CAR · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A combination of heavy rain and the melting of a record snowpack led to historic flooding along the Saint John River at Fort Kent. The Saint John River reached all-time historic levels during the flooding.
Every event with a place to put it. 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $727,000
- 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.
A combination of heavy rain and the melting of a record snowpack led to historic flooding along the Saint John River at Fort Kent. The Saint John River reached all-time historic levels during the flooding. A significant portion of Fort Kent was flooded along with many evacuations. However...a levee did protect some portions of downtown Fort Kent.
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 Apr 30, 12:04 AM EST, 56 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 12:04 AM EST, 56 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
104 AM EDT WED APR 30 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
DEEP LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK NORTH ACROSS THE STATE OVERNIGHT
ALLOWING THE HEAVY RAIN TO END. A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
WILL TRY TO BUILD INTO THE REGION THROUGH LATE WEEK THEN A WEAK
TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST LATER IN THE
WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /OVERNIGHT/...
PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER TO SHOWERS THEN END ACROSS THE REGION
OVERNIGHT IN THE WAKE OF LOW PRESSURE. THE BACK EDGE OF THE
PRECIPITATION SHIELD IS MIXING WITH SNOW ACROSS
PISCATAQUIS...NORTHERN SOMERSET AND NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK COUNTIES
WHILE COLD AIR WRAPS AROUND THE LOW LIFTING ACROSS MAINE. SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THIS AREA
WITH THE HIGHEST TOTALS POSSIBLE ALONG THE QUEBEC/MAINE BORDER
AND HIGHER TERRAIN AREAS...TAPERING DOWN TO AN INCH OR LESS FURTHER
EAST TOWARD ROUTE 11.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT/...
ELONGATED 500 MB TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO EXTEND FROM HUDSON BAY
AND ACROSS NORTHERN MAINE THROUGH FRIDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE AT
THE SURFACE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. MOISTURE WILL BE LIMITED ACROSS THE REGION
THROUGH THE PERIOD SO NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF ANY SHOWER
ACTIVITY IN SPITE OF THE UPPER TROUGH REMAINING ACROSS THE REGION.
HOWEVER WITH COLD POOL OF AIR ALOFT WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AT LEAST
SOME SCT CU/SC DEVELOP ESP ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS
DURING THURSDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL START TO MOVE OFF TO THE NORTH
AND EAST THURSDAY NIGHT WITH CONTINUED DRY WEATHER EXPECTED.
TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW
NORMAL THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
RISING 500 MB HEIGHTS CAN BE EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY AS UPPER TROUGH AXIS LIFTS TO THE NORTH AND EAST. A
FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL START TO MOVE TOWARD THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT
WITH INCREASING CLOUDS AND THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS LATER FRIDAY
NIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY. OP GFS DEVELOPS A WEAK WAVE OF LOW
PRESSURE TO OUR SOUTH SATURDAY NIGHT AND THEN MOVES IT OFF THE
COAST EARLY SUNDAY. HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL GFS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS
SHOWING A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE PLACEMENT OF THIS
FEATURE SO CONFIDENCE NOT ALTHOUGH THAT HIGH WITH REGARD TO TIMING
OF ANY SHOWERS OR RAIN. HAVE FOLLOWED THE GMOS GUIDANCE CLOSELY
THROUGH THIS PERIOD OF THE FORECAST. HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO BRING
DRY WEATHER TO THE REGION AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
WDSPRD MNLY IFR CONDS AT ALL TAF SITES ATTM W/ THESE CONDS XPCTD
TO PERSIST INTO TONIGHT. CONDS WILL IMPROVE FROM SW TO NE THRU THE
NGT AS LOW PRES LIFTS N OF THE STATE AND A WRLY FLOW OF COOL AND
DRIER AIR BEGINS TO OVRSPRD THE AREA. XPCT MNLY VFR CONDS WED INTO
THE WEEKEND THO SOME MVFR PSBL BY LATER SAT INTO SUN AS A TROF OF
LOW PRES APPROACHES FROM THE W.
&&
.MARINE...
NEAR TERM: A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 2 AM...WITH
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVEL WINDS/SEAS THEREAFTER. SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY LEVEL SEAS WILL PERSIST WEDNESDAY.
SHORT TERM: NO HEADLINES EXPECTED AT TIME.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH LATE TUESDAY EVENING HAVE RANGED FROM
2.50 TO 3.50 INCHES...WITH LOCAL TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 4.00
INCHES...ACROSS MUCH OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. ACROSS THE REST OF
THE WATCH AREA RAINFALL TOTALS GENERALLY RANGED FROM 1.50 TO
2.50 INCHES WITH AREAS OF 3.00 TO 3.50 INCHES. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL
TOTALS OF 0.25 TO 0.50 OF AN INCH CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREA...WITH 0.50 TO 0.75 OF AN INCH OF
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREA
OVERNIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE RAIN WILL END OVERNIGHT...RUNOFF FROM THE
RAIN AND MELTING SNOW WILL SUPPORT CONTINUED RISES ON RIVERS AND
STREAMS THROUGH WEDNESDAY CAUSING MANY RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE
WATCH AREA TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. MANY OF THE QUICKER
RESPONDING RIVERS ARE RISING QUICKLY...SOME ALREADY RISING ABOVE
FLOOD STAGE...W/ SLOWER RESPONDING RVRS XPCTD TO RISE AND CREST
OVR THE NXT 24-36 HRS. WILL CONT THE AREAL FLOOD WATCH FOR THE
PSBLTY OF LARGE SCALE AREAL FLOODING.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR MEZ001>006-010-011-
015-031.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING FOR ANZ050>052.
&&
NEAR TERM...FOSTER/NORCROSS/KHW
SHORT TERM...DUDA
LONG TERM...DUDA
AVIATION...FOSTER/NORCROSS/KHW
MARINE...FOSTER/NORCROSS/KHW/DUDA
HYDROLOGY...KHW/NORCROSSHazardous weather outlook, Apr 29, 11:32 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1232 AM EDT WED APR 30 2008
MEZ001>006-010-011-015-031-301100-
NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK-NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN SOMERSET-
NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK-
CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-
SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-
1232 AM EDT WED APR 30 2008
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MAINE...NORTH
CENTRAL MAINE...NORTHERN MAINE AND WEST CENTRAL MAINE.
.DAY ONE...OVERNIGHT
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
FLOOD WATCH.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
FLOOD WATCH.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
PLEASE REPORT ANY FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO...YOUR LOCAL MEDIA...OR GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CAR FOR
FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
MEZ016-017-029-030-032-301100-
INTERIOR HANCOCK-CENTRAL WASHINGTON-COASTAL HANCOCK-
COASTAL WASHINGTON-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-
1232 AM EDT WED APR 30 2008
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MAINE.
.DAY ONE...OVERNIGHT
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
PLEASE REPORT ANY FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO...YOUR LOCAL MEDIA...OR GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CAR FOR
FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
ANZ050>052-301100-
COASTAL WATERS FROM EASTPORT ME TO SCHOODIC POINT ME OUT 25 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT ME TO STONINGTON ME OUT 25 NM-
INTRACOASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT ME TO STONINGTON ME-
1232 AM EDT WED APR 30 2008
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.
.DAY ONE...OVERNIGHT
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
GALE WARNING.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
NORCROSS
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 29, 10:19 PM EST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1119 PM EDT TUE APR 29 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM FLOOD 2 N EAGLE LAKE 47.07N 68.59W
04/29/2008 AROOSTOOK ME PUBLIC
STATE ROUTE 11 FLOODED BETWEEN EAGLE LAKE AND WALLAGRASS.
1000 PM FLOOD 10 S MILLINOCKET 45.51N 68.71W
04/29/2008 PENOBSCOT ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE ROUTE 11 NEAR THE PISCATAQUIS/PENOBSCOT TOWN LINE
HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND IS CLOSED.
1000 PM FLOOD BROWNVILLE 45.31N 69.03W
04/29/2008 PISCATAQUIS ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE ROUTE 11...CHURCH STREET AND SCHOODIC LAKE ROAD IN
BROWNVILLE FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD MILO 45.25N 68.99W
04/29/2008 PISCATAQUIS ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAKEVIEW ROAD IN MILO FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD SEBEC 45.27N 69.12W
04/29/2008 PISCATAQUIS ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEBEC VILLAGE ROAD IN SEBEC FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD GUILFORD 45.17N 69.39W
04/29/2008 PISCATAQUIS ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
HUDSON AVENUE IN GUILFORD WASHED OUT.
1000 PM FLOOD CHARLESTON 45.08N 69.04W
04/29/2008 PENOBSCOT ME PUBLIC
STATE ROUTE 15 IN CHARLESTON WASHED OUT.
1000 PM FLOOD DEXTER 45.02N 69.29W
04/29/2008 PENOBSCOT ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE ROUTE 7 FROM DEXTER TO DOVER-FOXCROFT FLOODED IN
SPOTS.
1000 PM FLOOD ABBOT 45.19N 69.45W
04/29/2008 PISCATAQUIS ME PUBLIC
BACK ABBOT ROAD IN ABBOT FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD HAMPDEN 44.74N 68.84W
04/29/2008 PENOBSCOT ME DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
US ROUTE 1A IN HAMPDEN FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD CASTINE 44.39N 68.80W
04/29/2008 HANCOCK ME DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
STATE ROUTE 166 AT STATE ROUTE 199 IN CASTINE FLOODED.
1000 PM BLIZZARD GLENBURN 44.91N 68.85W
04/29/2008 PENOBSCOT ME DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
STATE ROUTE 221 IN GLENBURN FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD 5 W CLAYTON LAKE 46.61N 69.63W
04/29/2008 AROOSTOOK ME PUBLIC
THE BLANCHET-MAIBEC ROAD NEAR ROUND POND FLOODED.
1000 PM FLOOD 4 E CLAYTON LAKE 46.61N 69.44W
04/29/2008 AROOSTOOK ME PUBLIC
THE REALTY ROAD AT UMSASKIS FLOODED.
&&
MATFlood, Aroostook
- When
- April 30, 1:00 AM EST to 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Aroostook County, 0.66 mi NNE of Ft Kent to 0.19 mi NE of Ft Kent
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Property damage
- $727,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.259, -68.595
A combination of 2.50 to 3.50 inches of rain and the melting of a record snowpack led to historic flooding of the Saint John River at Fort Kent. The river crested at an all-time high level which was just over 5 feet above flood stage. The Fish River which flows into the Saint John River at Fort Kent also overflowed its banks...contributing to the Fort Kent flooding. |The Saint John River initially began flooding in the vicinity of the juncture with the Fish River when the waters of the Saint John River backed up into the Fish River. The initial flooding began with water running behind the levee which had been built along the Saint John River. Sandbagging efforts were eventually able to slow this flooding. However...with the Saint John River continuing to rise flooding expanded across the town. The river crested within a foot of the top of the levee which protects downtown Fort Kent. The levee did protect portions of downtown Fort Kent...though a significant portion of the town was flooded. The waters reached the base of the international bridge connecting Fort Kent with New Brunswick...causing closure of the bridge. There was concern for a time that the bridge might collapse...though the bridge did hold. |Between 100 and 150 homes were damaged or destroyed by the flooding in Fort Kent. Evacuations totaled between 600 and 1000 people. The flooding continued into May. The monetary value represents the total damage to public infrastructure across all of Aroostook county.
- 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.
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$727,000 · 1 event
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$727,000 · 1 event
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$481,000 · 1 event
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$481,000 · 1 event
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$481,000 · 1 event
- Flood in Maine, April 30, 2008$192,000 · 1 event
- Wildfire in Colorado, April 30, 2008$30,000 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, April 30, 20089 events
- High Wind in Arizona, April 30, 200854 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in New Mexico, April 30, 200853 kt wind · 2 events
- Wildfire in Texas, April 30, 20082 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Utah, April 30, 200852 kt wind · 2 events
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: 96641.