then continued through the afternoon. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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 CAR wrote it up.
Strong winds developed in the wake of a cold front crossing the region during the morning of the 25th...then continued through the afternoon. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common across the region. Along the Downeast coast...strong onshore winds also occurred in advance of the front with gusts to around 65 mph. The winds snapped branches... toppled trees and brought down power lines across all of northern and eastern Maine. Several thousand customers lost power at various times during the event.
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 Dec 25, 12:36 AM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1236 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL TRACK JUST NORTH OF
MAINE OVERNIGHT...DRAWING A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND CREST OVER
THE REGION ON FRIDAY. LOW PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH THE MID WEST
WILL TRACK WELL NORTH AND WEST OF THE AREA SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
THE WINTRY MIX WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH OVERNIGHT...BEFORE
TAPERING TO SNOW SHOWERS IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT CROSSING THE
REGION. MODELS INDICATE STRONG SW WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A LLVL
JET ALONG THE DOWNEAST COAST OVERNIGHT. THE STRONG WINDS WITH
THIS LLVL JET ONLY APPEARS TO BE A FACTOR FOR COASTAL
AREAS...ESPECIALLY OPEN AND HIGHER TERRAIN LOCATIONS...WITH ZONES
JUST INLAND APPEARING TO BE MORE STABLE TO ALLOW FOR MUCH
TRANSPORT OF THESE WINDS ALF TO THE SFC AS COMPARED TO IMMEDIATE
COAST. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ERLY THU MORN...LOW LVL LAPSE RATES
INCREASE DRAMATICALLY AS COLDER AIR FIRST ARRIVES ALF...ALLOWING
STRONG 925 TO 850 MB WINDS TO MIX TO THE SFC IN GUSTS DURING MUCH
OF CHRISTMAS DAY. MIXING WILL LIKELY BE FACILITATED BY PARTIAL TO
TOTAL CLRG ANTICIPATED BY CHRISTMAS LATE MORN TO AFT. IN ADDITION
TO THE WINDS...A SECONDARY ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL HERALD FALLING
AFT TEMPS THU.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
COLD DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA WILL BRING A COLD NIGHT
THURSDAY NIGHT WITH TEMPS DROPPING WELL BELOW ZERO IN THE NORTH AND IN
THE SINGLE DIGITS DOWNEAST. THE COLDEST TEMPS WILL BE IN WESTERN AREAS
WHERE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN WILL ALLOW THE AIR TO DECOUPLE. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL THEN BRING A COLD AND CALM DAY WITH SUNSHINE GIVING WAY
TO SOME INCREASING HIGH CLOUDS ON FRIDAY. CLOUDS WILL GRADUALLY
INCREASE FRIDAY NIGHT AS MOISTURE INCREASES AHEAD OF THE NEXT LOW
AND BEHIND DEPARTING HIGH PRESSURE. PRECIPITATION MOVING IN ON SATURDAY
WILL BE MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH. SNOW AND SLEET WILL CHANGE TO FREEZING
RAIN THEN PLAIN RAIN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH SATURDAY WITH PLAIN RAIN BY
SATURDAY EVENING IN ALL BUT A FEW OF THE COLDER POCKETS UP NORTH. TEMPS
SHOULD CONTINUE TO WARM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO THE 40S IN MOST AREAS BY
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...EXCEPT THE FAR NORTH WHERE TEMPS MAY REMAIN IN
THE 30S. BEST CHANCES FOR RAIN WILL BE OVER THE NORTH. ELSEWHERE...SOME
PATCHY DRIZZLE AND FOG CAN BE EXPECTED.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
EXCEPTIONALLY WARM TEMPERATURES SEEM LIKELY SUNDAY BEFORE COOLER AIR
RETURNS LATE IN THE DAY. READINGS MAY HIT THE VICINITY OF 50F AND
CAUSE QUITE A BIT OF SNOW MELT. CAA IS NOT TOO STRONG FOR SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD FOR MONDAY BUT A
SHORT WV WILL ARRIVE MON NIGHT WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND
A STRONG SHOT OF COLD AIR. EXPECT WIDESPREAD SUBZERO READINGS
AGAIN FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING AS ANOTHER RIDGE BUILDS FOR WEDNESDAY.
ANOTHER SHORT WV FOLLOWS FOR LATE WEDNESDAY INTO EARLY THURSDAY.
THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MORE LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW. ANOTHER
STRONG REINFORCEMENT OF COLD AIR FOLLOWS THIS SYSTEM.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN MIXED PRECIP OVRNGT WILL IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY
BY THU MORN ALL SITES TO VFR AS SFC WINDS VEER TO THE W AT STRONG
SPEEDS BRINGING STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND DOWNSLOPE TO THE REGION.
CONDITIONS WILL BECOME UNLIMITED VFR MOST LOCATIONS THU AFT.
VFR CONDITIONS IN HIGH PRESSURE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING WILL LOWER TO MVFR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING THEN IFR IN LOW
CLOUDS AND PATCHY PRECIPITATION SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.
&&
.MARINE...
WE INCREASED THE GALE TO A STORM WARNING GIVEN THE INCREASING SFC
PRES GRAD AND LOW LVL LAPSE RATES BEGINNING LATE TNGT AND
MAXIMIZING IN THE MORN HRS THU BEFORE WINDS ALF SLOWLY WEAKEN
THU AFT.
WINDS WILL DIMINISH FROM A GALE TO AN SCA THURSDAY EVENING...THEN
BECOME LIGHT FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY EVENING. INCREASING SOUTH WINDS
MAY REQUIRE A STRONG SCA OR A GALE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING FOR
MEZ001>006-010.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-031-032.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR MEZ029-030.
MARINE...STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ANZ050>052.
&&
NEAR TERM...VJN/NORCROSS
SHORT TERM...BLOOMER
LONG TERM...MWALKER
AVIATION...VJN
MARINE...VJN/BLOOMERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 1220 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008 MEZ001>006-010-251200- NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK-NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN SOMERSET- NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS- 1220 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... 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. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MEZ011-015>017-031-032-251200- CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT-INTERIOR HANCOCK- CENTRAL WASHINGTON-SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN WASHINGTON- 1220 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MAINE...NORTH CENTRAL MAINE AND SOUTHEAST 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. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MEZ029-030-251200- COASTAL HANCOCK-COASTAL WASHINGTON- 1220 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ050>052-251200- 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- 1220 AM EST THU DEC 25 2008 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... 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. STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NORCROSS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Measured wind gusts to around 65 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
Estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph toppled trees and power lines.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, December 2008
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: 146960, 146962, 146950, 146951, 146952, 146953, 146954, 146955, 146956, 146958, 146959.