Maine, 2010

Coastal Flood in Maine, March 30 to 31, 2010

March 30 to 31, 2010 · NWS GYX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A Nor easter slowly weakened off the southern New England coast on the evening of the 30th. Moderately large ocean waves combined with the highest astronomical tide of the month to produce beach erosion, splash-over and coastal flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

A Nor easter slowly weakened off the southern New England coast on the evening of the 30th. Moderately large ocean waves combined with the highest astronomical tide of the month to produce beach erosion, splash-over and coastal flooding. In Portland, the water level approached Commercial Street. Splash-over occurred with flooding on Water Street in Saco with rocks and seaweed thrown on to Kennebunk beach. Coastal flooding and splash-over deposited debris on Long Beach and Shore Road in York.

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 Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 30, 2:31 PM EST, 7 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 2:31 PM EST, 7 hours 29 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 30, 2:12 PM EST, 7 hours 48 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 30, 5:51 PM EST, 4 hours 9 minutes before
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Local storm report, Mar 30, 6:42 PM EST, 3 hours 18 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 coastal flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Coastal Flood, Coastal Cumberland

When
March 30, 10:00 PM EST to March 31, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An astronomical high tide combined with a weakening Nor'easter to produce coastal flooding in coastal Cumberland County. The storm tide in Portland Harbor topped out at 12.60 ft.

Coastal Flood, Coastal York

When
March 30, 10:00 PM EST to March 31, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Coastal York forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An astronomical high tide combined with a weakening Nor'easter to produce coastal flooding in York County. Splash-over occurred with flooding on Water Street in Saco with rocks and seaweed thrown onto Kennebunk beach. Coastal flooding and splash-over also occurred on Long Beach and Shore Roads in York.

What these are

Coastal Flood
Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Maine in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, March 2010

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 218732, 218733.