An isolated severe thunderstorm moved through southwestern Maine on the evening of July 1st downing trees and wires in York County.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
An isolated severe thunderstorm moved through southwestern Maine on the evening of July 1st downing trees and wires in York County.
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 Jul 1, 1:52 PM EST, 4 hours 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 252 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG THE COASTLINE WILL DISSIPATE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRIEFLY RIDGE IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THEN A COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH LATE THURSDAY. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND...HIGH PRESSURE WILL RIDGE TOWARDS THE REGION FROM THE GREAT LAKES...SETTING UP A SEASONABLE AND LARGELY DRY PATTERN. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... THROUGH 230 PM...RADAR SHOWS MOSTLY POPCORN SHOWERS WILL LITTLE ORGANIZATION. BEST COVERAGE IS ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WEST...CLOSEST TO THE SHORTWAVE. SHOWERS APPEAR DIURNAL...SO EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO PEAK AROUND 400 PM...AND THEN START TO DIMINISH. THUS FAR...INSTABILITY SEEMS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT SEVERE WEATHER...WITH ONLY AN ISOLATED THREAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON. FOR THIS EVENING...EXPECT A MID-LEVEL CLOUD DECK ENTER THE REGION...THEN TO DISSIPATE AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON. EXPECT COASTAL STRATUS TO BE PUSHED EVEN FURTHER EAST...WITH ONLY THE IMMEDIATE MID-COAST HAVING A SHOT AS STRATUS DEVELOPMENT. HOWEVER...MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND CALM WINDS WILL PROVIDE GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING...WITH A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD RADIATION FOG EXPECTED. FEEL NAM/GFS MOS BLEND WAS A TAD TOO WARM ON LOWS BASED ON LAST NIGHT LOWS AND CURRENT DEW POINTS...BOTH OF WHICH ARE COLDER THAN MOS FORECASTS. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY/... THE SHEARING OUT 500 MB TROF FINALLY LIFTS ACROSS TOMORROW. BASED ON ACTIVITY ALONG IT...EXPECT ANOTHER ROUND OF SCATTERED SHOWERS TOMORROW...BUT WITH LESS AREAL COVERAGE AS THE SHORTWAVE IS WEAKER. ANY DEVELOPMENT WILL BE DIURNALLY DEPENDANT...WITH SHOWERS CONFINED TO THE AFTERNOON...AND EAST AS THE SHORTWAVE WILL CROSS WESTERN SECTIONS IN THE MORNING. NAM/GFS MOS BLEND LOOKS OK FOR TEMPERATURES. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY ERODE AND MOVE OFFSHORE AHEAD OF ADVANCING COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY. THURSDAY SHOULD START NICE WITH INCREASING CLOUDS. THE GFS/NAM ARE BOTH SLOWING THE PROGRESSION OF THE FRONT AND IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. WENT WITH LIKELY POPS ACROSS THE NORTHERN REGIONS IN THE AFTERNOON/EVENING WHILE CHANCE POPS EVERYWHERE ELSE. CONVECTION FOR THURSDAY...SPC CURRENTLY HAS THE REGION IN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER 12Z THURSDAY THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY. STORMS SHOULD DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING. INDEPENDENCE DAY...RIGHT NOW MODELS ARE SHOWING A VERY NICE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. SKIES SHOULD CLEAR FOLLOWING FRONTAL PASSAGE...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VERY EXTREME SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS WHERE CLOUDS MAY LINGER. AT THIS TIME...FRIDAY NIGHT LOOKS NICE...WITH ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE OF A STRAY SHOWER OVER SOUTHERN AREAS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE. TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 70S AND LOWS IN THE 50S. LOOKING AHEAD TO SATURDAY/SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL BUILD IN FOR NEW ENGLAND GIVING WAY TO SEASONABLE AND MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... IN THE SHORT TERM...SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGH 23Z...WITH MOST OF THIS INLAND. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TOO ISOLATED FOR A MOTION IN TAFS...THOUGH THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF A THUNDERSTORM. FOR TONIGHT...TREND A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC ON RADIATION FOG TONIGHT...FEEL MOS MAY BE A BIT TOO HIGH ON ITS DEW POINTS. HOWEVER...CONFIDENT LEB WILL FOG IN...WITH A PERIOD OF IFR FOG POSSIBLE AT OTHER SITES. IN THE LONG TERM...MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNING. LOWER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED IN THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH COLD FRONT PASSAGE LATE THURSDAY NIGHT. && .MARINE... IN THE SHORT TERM...WIND/SEAS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW SCA CRITERIA. EXPECT AN EARLY SEA-BREEZE DEVELOPMENT WEDNESDAY. IN THE LONG TERM...OVERALL CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN QUIET. WIND/SEAS WILL INCREASE WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE THURSDAY. WAVES GENERALLY UNDER 5 FT. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. NH...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...APFFEL NEAR TERM...APFFEL SHORT TERM...APFFEL LONG TERM...TAYLOR AVIATION...APFFEL/TAYLOR MARINE...APFFEL/TAYLOR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 310 AM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-020715- 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- 310 AM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. ANZ150>154-020715- STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME OUT TO 25 NM-PENOBSCOT BAY- PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME OUT TO 25 NM-CASCO BAY- CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM- 310 AM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CASCO BAY...PENOBSCOT BAY...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME AND THE COASTAL WATERS FROM STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 550 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 NHZ007-008-012245- MERRIMACK-SULLIVAN- 550 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN SULLIVAN COUNTY AND NORTHWEST MERRIMACK COUNTY THROUGH 645 PM EDT... AT 550 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 3 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNT SUNAPEE STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEW LONDON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 24 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND GOSHEN...MOUNT SUNAPEE STATE PARK...BRADFORD...NEWBURY...JOHN HAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...SUNAPEE...SUTTON...WADLEIGH STATE PARK... NEW LONDON AND WINSLOW STATE PARK THROUGH 645 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND WIND GUST UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. SJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 605 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 MEZ020-021-012245- ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC- 605 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY AND WESTERN KENNEBEC COUNTY THROUGH 645 PM EDT... AT 605 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER TURNER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND TURNER...LIVERMORE...LEEDS...WAYNE...READFIELD...MOUNT VERNON...FAYETTE AND BELGRADE THROUGH 645 PM EDT. ANOTHER STORM NEAR FAYETTE WILL AFFECT AREAS BETWEEN FAYETTE...MOUNT VERNON AND BELGRADE THROUGH 645 PM. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND WIND GUST UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. SJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 621 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 MEZ023-024-012300- COASTAL CUMBERLAND-COASTAL YORK- 621 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT YORK COUNTY AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY THROUGH 700 PM EDT... AT 621 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER KENNEBUNK AND ANOTHER JUST SOUTHWEST OF BIDDEFORD...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND KENNEBUNK... KENNEBUNKPORT...ARUNDEL...BIDDEFORD...FERRY BEACH STATE PARK...SACO ...OCEAN PARK...OLD ORCHARD BEACH AND SCARBOROUGH THROUGH 700 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND WIND GUST UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. SJC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
626 PM EDT TUE JUL 01 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM TSTM WND DMG NORTH BERWICK 43.30N 70.73W
07/01/2008 YORK ME LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN...TOOK DOWN SOME PHONE LINES.
&&
SJCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 629 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 MEZ012-020-012315- ANDROSCOGGIN-SOUTHERN OXFORD- 629 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY AND SOUTHEAST OXFORD COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM EDT... AT 629 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER OXFORD MOVING NORTHEAST AT 21 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND OXFORD ...MECHANIC FALLS...HEBRON AND TURNER THROUGH 715 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND WIND GUST UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. SJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 634 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 NHZ008-009-012315- BELKNAP-MERRIMACK- 634 PM EDT TUE JUL 1 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BELKNAP COUNTY AND MERRIMACK COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM EDT... AT 634 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF FRANKLIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND WEST FRANKLIN...HILL...SANBORNTON AND NEW HAMPTON THROUGH 715 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND WIND GUST UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. SJC
The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:56 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees and power lines just north of Kennebunk.
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, July 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: 122801.