Low pressure crossing southern Canada pushed a trailing cold front toward northern New England during the late afternoon and evening. Ahead of the front, thunderstorm activity quickly turned severe with numerous supercells producing damaging winds and large hail along with 3 tornadoes.
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.
Low pressure crossing southern Canada pushed a trailing cold front toward northern New England during the late afternoon and evening. Ahead of the front, thunderstorm activity quickly turned severe with numerous supercells producing damaging winds and large hail along with 3 tornadoes.
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 21, 2:02 PM EST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 302 PM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 .SYNOPSIS... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. THE COLD FRONT WILL CROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE OVERNIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE WEST THURSDAY...AND PRODUCE A COOLER AND DRIER DAY WITH A GUSTY NORTHWEST WIND. HUMIDITY BEGINS TO INCREASE AGAIN IN FRIDAY. A WEAK WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE SOUTHWEST FRIDAY NIGHT AND WILL STALL OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MAINE ON SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT AS INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE CROSSES SOUTHERN QUEBEC. A STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW WILL SET UP BEHIND THE FRONT ON SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION MONDAY AND TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... SVR THREAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. ATTM...BEST ASCENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM COMING THROUGH NY STATE...AND WILL MOVE EAST OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...AND THEREFORE EXPECT STORMS TO INTENSIFY OVER NH AND EVENTUALLY WORK INTO ME. COLD AIR ALOFT...AND WARM SFC TEMPS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TOT AP INTO STRONGER WINDS ALOFT. WILL LKLY SEE CONVECTION CONTINUE THRU THE 00Z WATCH EXPIRATION TIME...AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BEYOND THAT. EXPECTING SOME FOG DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THE STORMS AS ACTUAL SFC FRONT WILL LAG A FEW HOURS BEHIND. WILL START TO SEE SOME CLEARING IN WRN ZONES AFTER MIDNIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY/... ANY LINGERING CLOUDS WILL BREAK UPS SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE AS NW WINDS PICK UP AND BEGIN TO GUST TO 25 MPH OR SO. SOME MTN CLOUDS/SHRA WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO COLD AIR ALOFT AND TERRAIN INFLUENCES. OTHERWISE...MAINLY SUNNY...DRIER AND BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE IN STORE. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE CRESTS OVER THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT BRINGING MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS. OVERNIGHT LOWS SHOULD BE MOSTLY IN THE 50S...WITH SOME UPPER 40S ALONG NORTHERN MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND LOWER 60S ALONG THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SEACOAST. CLOUD COVER AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY INCREASES FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS A WARM FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REACH INTO THE 70S TO AROUND 80. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSES JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. SHOWERS COULD BECOME MORE NUMEROUS SATURDAY NIGHT AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE REGION. DRIER WEATHER RETURNS EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE AREA MOVES EAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS EXCEPT FOR ABOVE NORMAL MINIMUM TEMPERATURES DURING THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... SHORT TERM...EXPECT SCT TSRA BY THE AFTERNOON WITH PERIODS OF MVFR IN HEAVY RAIN AND BR...ENDING BY AROUND MIDNIGHT...LOW CLOUDS AND FOG LOOK TO KEEP IFR CONDITIONS IN FOR MOST OF THE OVERNIGHT. VFR RETURNS THURSDAY WITH GUSTY NW WINDS. LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS CONTINUE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH ASSOCIATED MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS MOVE BACK IN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. VFR CONDITIONS RETURN FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM...WINDS AND SEAS BELOW SCA CRITERIA...BUT STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO THIS EVENING...WITH GUSTY AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/....WINDS AND SEAS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA THROUGH MONDAY. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. NH...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...CEMPA SHORT TERM...CEMPA LONG TERM...WHEELER AVIATION...CEMPA/WHEELER MARINE...CEMPA/WHEELER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 1144 AM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-221545- 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- 1144 AM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 507 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ150>154-221545- 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- 1144 AM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 507 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 208 PM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 NHZ003>006-212115- NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON- SOUTHERN CARROLL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLETON...NORTH CONWAY...LEBANON... HANOVER...PLYMOUTH...WOLFEBORO...OSSIPEE 208 PM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ROLL THROUGH CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CROSS THROUGH CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN 200 AND 330 PM. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY DROP A QUICK ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN IN SOME COMMUNITIES. WINDS MAY GUST OVER 35 MPH IN A FEW OF THE STRONGER STORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE LOWER TO MID 80S. JC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 323 PM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 MEZ012-018-019-NHZ002>004-006-212230- SOUTHERN OXFORD-INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-SOUTHERN COOS- NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN CARROLL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RUMFORD...NORWAY...FRYEBURG...OXFORD... SANFORD...BERWICK...NORTH WINDHAM...GORHAM...BRIDGTON...BERLIN... LANCASTER...LITTLETON...NORTH CONWAY...WOLFEBORO...OSSIPEE 323 PM EDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS LIKELY THROUGH 5 PM... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND INTERIOR SOUTHWEST MAINE THROUGH 5 PM. A QUICK INCH OF RAIN WILL FALL WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE LOWER 80S. JC
The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:39 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 funnel cloud, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on powerlines across Westcott Road north of Gorham.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and wires on Wentworth Road in Windham.
A tornado touched down in Newfield on the west side of Patterson Road and moved east into Limerick crossing Patterson and Foss roads before lifting off the ground. The E-F1 tornado was estimated to have maximum winds of 90 mph and cut a path almost 2 miles in length and up to 200 yards wide. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted by the tornado. In addition, the tornado damaged several homes and buildings in the area. Sections of the metal roof of one home were found about 0.2 miles from the house.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees in Parker Head Road in Phippsburg.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous tress on Route 302 from Fryeburg to Bridgton.
A tornado touched down just west of Webster Road in Buxton and then moved east into Gorham. The tornado produced a discontinuous path of damage through Gorham before lifting off the ground near the intersection of Routes 237 and 25. The tornado snapped or uprooted hundreds of trees along of its track. The most significant damage was observed near Route 202 where maximum winds were estimated at near 90 mph. The tornado was on the ground for about 5 miles, had a maximum width of about 350 yards, and was classified as an E-F1 based on the estimated wind speed. The tornado downed trees unto power lines, homes. and cars in the area and caused numerous power outages. In one instance, farm trailers were moved 50 to 75 feet by the tornado and sheds were destroyed. In Gorham...damage was noted along Finn Parker and Wood Roads...Lovers Lane...Kimball Road...Wentworth Drive...and Lawn and Libby Roads as well as Route 237.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees in the roadway on Young Hill Road in Greenwood.
A tornado touched down just west of East Webster Road in Buxton and then moved east into Gorham. The tornado produced a discontinuous path of damage through Gorham before lifting off the ground near the intersection of Routes 237 and 25. The tornado snapped or uprooted hundreds of trees along of its track. The most significant damage was observed near Route 202 where maximum winds were estimated at near 90 mph. The tornado was on the ground for about 5 miles, had a maximum width of about 350 yards, and was classified as an E-F1 based on the estimated wind speed. The tornado downed trees unto power lines, homes. and cars in the area and caused numerous power outages. In one instance, farm trailers were moved 50 to 75 feet by the tornado and sheds were destroyed. In Gorham...damage was noted along Finn Parker and Wood Roads...Lovers Lane...Kimball Road...Wentworth Drive...and Lawn and Libby Roads as well as Route 237.
A severe thunderstorm produced multiple reports of downed trees in Mechanic Falls.
A severe thunderstorm winds collapsed a barn Near Gorham.
A severe thunderstorm downed large tree limbs in Yarmouth.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees in Poland.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees and powerlines on Libby Avenue and Gray Road near Windham.
A thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud in Standish.
A thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud in Hollis.
A thunderstorm produced .88 hail in Falmouth.
A tornado touched down between Back and Walnut Hill Roads in Shapleigh and moved east into Alfred before lifting off the ground on the east side of Back Road in Alfred. The E-F1 tornado was estimated to have maximum winds of 90 mph and cut a path about 5.4 miles in length and up to 200 yards wide. Damage from the tornado was observed across or near Stone Haven Hill Road and Walnut Hill Road in Shapleigh...and Gebung, Bracket Hill, Gore, Rt 202, Cranberry Meadows and Back Roads in Alfred. The tornado downed hundreds of trees along its path and falling trees knocked down utility lines and snapped power poles in the path. Several structures were also damaged by falling trees.
Lightning struck a home on Ash Point Road and ignited a fire that did extensive damage to the interior of the home. The lightning struck the roof of the home and started a fire in an upstairs closet before spreading. No one was injured in the blaze, but damage was estimated at $70,000.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees in Shapleigh.
A severe thunderstorm produced 1 inch hail in Sanford.
A severe thunderstorm uprooted multiple large trees with one falling on a house off Wood Road in Gorham.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous large trees in Lyman.
A severe thunderstorm produced straight line wind damage in an area just north of Jenkins Road in Saco where about one hundred trees were snapped or uprooted by the wind. Timber in the area had been recently harvested...leaving the remaining trees in and immediately surrounding the harvested area more susceptible to wind damage. One home in the area sustained minor damage from the wind. Winds were estimated to have gusted between 60 and 70 mph in the damaged area.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Mountain and Reach Roads in Harpswell.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and wires on Willow Avenue in Old Orchard Beach.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees in Saco.
A severe thunderstorm produced a measured wind gust of 64 mph in Cape Elizabeth.
A severe thunderstorm downed a tree on a vehicle in Scarborough with minor injuries resulting.
Winds from a severe thunderstorm brought down numerous trees in an area from Phippsburg to Georgetown. In Phippsburg the most severe damage occurred in and around Parker Head Road and Captain John Parker Road where scattered trees were uprooted or snapped by the storm. Winds were estimated to have gusted between 60 and 70 mph in the area.
In Georgetown, the severe thunderstorm line winds brought down more than a hundred of trees and damaged one vehicle in the area around Bay Point and Marrtown Roads. Although some of the damage was scattered...an area just east of Bay Point Road was particularly hard hit. Winds were estimated to have gusted up to 80 mph in the area.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Log Cabin Road near Route 1 in Arundel.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees across Route 1 near Biddeford.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Turkey Cove Road in Saint George.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Maine, 2010Warnings in Maine, July 2010
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: 251939, 251940, 250413, 251941, 251942, 250497, 251943, 250498, 251944, 251945, 251946, 251947, 251948, 251934, 251935, 251936, 250415, 250719, 251949, 251938, 251950, 251961, 250761, 251951, 251952, 251953, 251957, 251954, 250777, 251955, 251959, 251956.