Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon of July 9th in western Maine and moved eastward through the early evening hours. Damage with these storms was exclusively due to strong winds.
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.
Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon of July 9th in western Maine and moved eastward through the early evening hours. Damage with these storms was exclusively due to strong winds.
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 9, 1:44 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
244 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BEAR DOWN ON THE REGION THE REST OF THIS
AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS. THE FRONT WILL PUSH OFF THE COAST LATE TONIGHT.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE
HIGH WILL SLIDE OFF THE COAST BY SATURDAY WITH A RETURN FLOW
TRANSPORTING HOT AND INCREASINGLY HUMID AIR INTO THE REGION
THROUGH SUNDAY. A SLOW-MOVING COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION
SUNDAY NIGHT THEN LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
THE CDFNT WILL MOVE THRU THE THIS EVENING CONTINUING THE THREAT
OF SEVERE WX POSSIBLY THRU MIDNIGHT. GRADUALLY THE FNT MOVES
OFFSHORE CAUSING TSTMS TO TAPER TO -SHRA THEN END. LOCALLY
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING WITH SOME
OF THE STORMS SINCE VERY HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER EXCEEDING THE 150
PERCENT THRESHOLD ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THRU THE EVENING. AFTER
MIDNIGHT THE FRONT MOVES OFFSHORE WITH A WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST
ALLOWING MUCH DRIER AIR TO MOVE INTO THE AREA ALLOWING SKIES TO
BECOME CLEAR BY MORNING. GOING ABOVE MAV POPS FOR THIS EVENING.
TEMPS SEEM OK FOR OVERNIGHT LOWS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY/...
A SUNNY WARM DAY EXPECTED WITH HIGH PRES BUILDING ACROSS THE AREA.
DEWPOINTS WILL BE MUCH LOWER AND WILL BE APPRECIABLY NOTICED
ACROSS THE FA. USED A BLEND OF GFS/WRF TEMPS.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP FAIR SKIES AND TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 40S
TO MID 50S THURSDAY NIGHT. CLOUDS WILL START FILTERING INTO THE
MOUNTAINS AS A SHORTWAVE SWINGS DOWN FROM THE NORTHWEST. THERE
COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY
AFTERNOON UNTIL THAT SHORTWAVE MOVES OFF TO THE EAST. HIGH
PRESSURE MOVES OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST ON SATURDAY AND ALLOWS THE
WARM STICKY AIR TO RETURN. SHOWERS MOVE IN ON SUNDAY AS A COLD
FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE NORTHWEST. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE FOR THE
FRONT TO STALL ALONG THE COAST SUNDAY NIGHT UNTIL LOW PRESSURE
MOVES SLOWLY UP THE COAST MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE
CLEARS THINGS OUT FOR WEDNESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS IN
NUMEROUS TSTMS THIS AFTERNOON AND THRU THE EVENING TIL ABOUT
MIDNIGHT. STRONG DOWNBURSTS ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME OF THESE
STORMS. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION BY AROUND
06-09Z WITH A WINDSHIFT TO THE WEST BEHIND THE FROPA AND THEN
CONDITIONS BECOMING VFR AND CONTINUE VFR CLR FOR THURSDAY.
LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
PATCHY VALLEY FOG...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY
THURSDAY NIGHT. BRIEFLY MVFR CONDITIONS WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY
DEVELOPING MIDDAY SUNDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...WILL CONTINUE THE SCA THRU THE
NIGHT AS WINDS NEAR SCA CRITERIA AND SEAS CURRENTLY BUILDING.
WINDS WILL REMAIN GUSTY AHEAD OF THE FRONT TIL AROUND MIDNIGHT
ALLOWING SEAS TO BUILD FURTHER. LATE TONIGHT AND TOWARD MORNING
WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND DIMINISH ALSO KNOCKING DOWN THE
SEAS.
LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FOR GUSTY WINDS AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT LATE SUNDAY.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...NONE.
NH...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ153-154.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ150>152.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 312 AM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-100715- 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- 312 AM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION LATER TODAY...THEN EXIT THE COAST BY THURSDAY MORNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS FRONT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTAIN STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS THE REGION IN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR LATER TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. ANZ150>154-100715- 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- 312 AM EDT WED JUL 9 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 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS THE REGION IN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR LATER TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. .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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 249 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 NHZ006-008-009-091915- BELKNAP-MERRIMACK-SOUTHERN CARROLL- 249 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BELKNAP COUNTY...MERRIMACK COUNTY AND CARROLL COUNTY THROUGH 315 PM EDT... AT 249 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER WEST FRANKLIN...OR ABOUT 3 MILES NORTH OF FRANKLIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND WEST FRANKLIN... LOCHMERE...TILTON-NORTHFIELD...TILTON...SANBORNTON...NORTHFIELD...NEW HAMPTON...HILL...FRANKLIN AND LACONIA THROUGH 315 PM EDT. HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. MC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 302 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 NHZ002-003-091945- NORTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN COOS- 302 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT GRAFTON COUNTY AND COOS COUNTY THROUGH 345 PM EDT... AT 302 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTH WOODSTOCK... OR ABOUT 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LINCOLN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND NORTH WOODSTOCK...LOST RIVER...WOODSTOCK...LINCOLN...FRANCONIA NOTCH STATE PARK...TWIN MOUNTAIN...CARROLL...RANDOLPH...PINKHAM NOTCH AND MOUNT WASHINGTON THROUGH 345 PM EDT. HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. MC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 315 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 MEZ009-014-092000- CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN SOMERSET- 315 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOMERSET COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 315 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEW PORTLAND TO CARATUNK MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND THE FORKS...NEW PORTLAND...LAKE MOXIE...CARATUNK...MOSCOW...BINGHAM...SOLON...EMBDEN...MAYFIELD AND BRIGHTON THROUGH 400 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED AS THIS WEATHER MOVES THROUGH. APFFEL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 334 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 MEZ018-023-NHZ006-009-010-013-092015- BELKNAP-COASTAL YORK-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-INTERIOR YORK-SOUTHERN CARROLL-STRAFFORD- 334 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BELKNAP COUNTY...STRAFFORD COUNTY...YORK COUNTY...ROCKINGHAM COUNTY AND CARROLL COUNTY THROUGH 415 PM EDT... AT 334 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF OSSIPEE TO 9 MILES WEST OF EXETER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND PAWTUCKAWAY STATE PARK...NORTHWOOD MEADOWS STATE PARK...MIRROR LAKE...MELVIN VILLAGE...EAST ALTON...CENTER BARNSTEAD...ALTON BAY...WOLFEBORO...STRAFFORD AND SANDOWN THROUGH 415 PM EDT. HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS. MC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 402 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 MEZ009-014-092045- CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN SOMERSET- 402 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOMERSET COUNTY THROUGH 445 PM EDT... AT 402 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER BRIGHTON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND MAYFIELD...BRIGHTON AND CAMBRIDGE THROUGH 445 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED. APFFEL
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
415 PM EDT WED JUL 09 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM TSTM WND DMG PLYMOUTH 43.76N 71.69W
07/09/2008 GRAFTON NH AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREE DOWN ON POWER LINES
&&
POHLThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:16 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on power lines near Route 109 and French Road in Acton.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Route 302 near Naples.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and power lines on Derrick Drive and Tucker Road.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on wires in Hollis.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on South Shore Drive near Rangely State Park.
A severe thunderstorm downed limbs on power lines near Standish.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and wires on Gore Road as well as Pine Point Road in Oxford.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees near Gorham.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Route 107 just north of Sebago.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees, blocking a road in Poland.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees near Hollis Center.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Route 140 near Canton on Stable Hill Road.
A severe thunderstorm brought large branches down in Jay.
A severe thunderstorm downed a tree large enough to block a road in Fayette.
A severe thunderstorm produced two reports of downed trees in Embden.
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: 122969, 122971, 122972, 122973, 122974, 122975, 122976, 122977, 122978, 122979, 122980, 122981, 122982, 122983, 122984.