A strong cold front moved through the area on the afternoon of May 6th. Thunderstorms, embedded in a strong wind field, moved east at 35 mph and produced wind damage in northwestern Maine.
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.
A strong cold front moved through the area on the afternoon of May 6th. Thunderstorms, embedded in a strong wind field, moved east at 35 mph and produced wind damage in northwestern Maine.
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 May 6, 8:17 AM EST, 4 hours 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 917 AM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. MODERATE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL SET UP BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT...THEN RELAX FRIDAY MORNING AS HIGH PRESSURE APPROACHES THE REGION. THE HIGH WILL MOVE OFFSHORE FRIDAY NIGHT. A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY WILL THEN MOVE NORTHEAST AND ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE EXITING INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES ON SUNDAY. A MODERATE TO STRONG NORTHWESTERLY GRADIENT SETS UP BEHIND THE FRONT SUNDAY AND CONTINUES THROUGH EARLY MONDAY BEFORE RELAXING LATER MONDAY. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE APPROACHES THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT AND CRESTS OVER THE REGION ON TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... 9AM UPDATE...COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ACROSS EASTERN NY/WESTERN VT...WITH THE LINE OF PRECIPITATION PUSHING OFF TO THE EAST. HEAVIEST RAINFALL THIS MORNING HAS BEEN ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS OF NH/ME. ONLY A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MIDDAY WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING FROM WEST TO EAST AS THE FRONT TRAVERSES THE REGION. HAVE UPDATED GRIDS TO REFLECT RECENT TRENDS IN TEMPS/DEWPOINTS AND CLOUD COVER. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...STRONG SHORTWAVE AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE COLD FRONT CROSSES THE REGION TODAY AND BRINGS WITH IT A THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. STEEP LAPSE RATES MAY CAUSE ENOUGH INSTABILITY SUCH THAT ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY COULD PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL/GUSTY WINDS...SO WILL GO WITH ENHANCED WORDING FOR NOW FOR THE MORNING HOURS. BIGGEST LIMITING FACTOR WILL BE LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT SURFACE HEATING THIS MORNING AS CLOUDS SHOULD LIMIT INSOLATION...THUS ANY OF THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE ISOLATED...WIDELY SCATTERED AT WORST. GOING WITH LIKELY/CATEGORICAL POPS TODAY AND HAVE USED BLEND OF MAV/CURRENT FORECAST FOR GRIDDED DATABASE. 40 KT WINDS ABOVE THE INVERSION PER VAD PROFILER SO SURFACE BASED WINDS SHOULD MIX DOWN DURING THE DAY AND L00KING FOR SUSTAINED WINDS IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH OR SO...AND HAVE USED A BLEND OF MAV/MET/CURRENT FORECAST TO POPULATE WITH. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... SKIES CLEAR OVERNIGHT AND TEMPERATURES WILL RUN SOME 5 TO 10 DEGREES COOLER...EVEN THOUGH WIND GRADIENT SHOULD KEEP SUSTAINED WINDS IN THE 10 TO 15 MPH RANGE OVER THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... MODELS ARE COMING MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE TIMING OF THE SHOWERS LATER FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. STILL HEDGING WITH THE SLIGHTLY FASTER NAM PCPN AT THIS TIME AS VIGOROUS SHORT WAVE TRAVELS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES. MOST OF THE CONVECTION SHOULD BE SHUNTED OUT OUR SOUTH...HOWEVER BEST LIFTED INDICES RAPIDLY DROP OFF OVER FAR SOUTHERN LOCATIONS SATURDAY MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON WITH THE CLOSEST APPROACH OF THE WARM SECTOR ALOFT. SYSTEM WRAPS UP TO OUR NE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THERE COULD BE SOME -SHSN OVER NORTHERN/MOUNTAIN SECTIONS WITH A BRIEF SHOT OF UPSLOPE CONDITIONS AND WRAP AROUND MOISTURE. DRY THEREAFTER UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION /13Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... SHORT TERM...MVFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING IN SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS... IMPROVING TO VFR CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING FROM WEST TO EAST. VFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT. LONG TERM...CONDITIONS DETERIORATE FRIDAY NIGHT...REACHING AREAS OF IFR BY LATE AT NIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY. CONDITIONS IMPROVE...MAINLY OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS SATURDAY NIGHT. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM...SCA CRITERIA FOR WINDS/SEAS THROUGH THIS EVENING...THEN GOING BELOW SCA CRITERIA TONIGHT. LONG TERM...CONDITIONS MAINLY BORDERLINE SCA CRITERIA FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. STRONGER WINDS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DEPARTING SURFACE LOW BY SATURDAY NIGHT. && .FIRE WEATHER... HIGHER HUMIDITY AND PRECIPITATION TODAY...THUS RED FLAG CONDITIONS NOT EXPECTED. HUMIDITY FRIDAY DRYS TO THE 25 TO 35 PERCENT RANGE. SURFACE WINDS OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS ON FRIDAY SHOULD REMAIN BELOW RED FLAG CRITERIA...THOUGH THEY MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED CRITERIA ON FRIDAY OVER NORTHERN/MOUNTAIN SECTIONS WHERE DETERMINING FACTOR WILL DEPEND UPON AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION RECEIVED TODAY. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. NH...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ150>154. && UPDATE...DAG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 239 AM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-070645- 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- 239 AM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY...WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN OUT OF THE WEST. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. HIGHER GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE IN EXPOSED AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN. .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. ANZ150>154-070645- 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- 239 AM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY 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 1237 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 MEZ007-008-013-061700- NORTHERN FRANKLIN-NORTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN- 1237 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT OXFORD COUNTY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 100 PM EDT... AT 1237 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 2 MILES SOUTH OF BYRON...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF RUMFORD...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND ROXBURY...BYRON... WELD...MOUNT BLUE STATE PARK...TEMPLE...STRONG...SALEM...PHILLIPS... NEW VINEYARD AND AVON THROUGH 100 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. KIMBLE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 130 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 MEZ012-013-020-021-061800- ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN OXFORD- 130 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY...KENNEBEC COUNTY...OXFORD COUNTY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 200 PM EDT... AT 130 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EAST WILTON TO 3 MILES NORTH OF BUCKFIELD...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTH OF FARMINGTON TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF TURNER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND PARIS...EAST WILTON...WILTON...SUMNER...JAY...HARTFORD...FARMINGTON...CANTON...BUC KFIELD AND LIVERMORE FALLS THROUGH 200 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...OCCASIONAL CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. KIMBLE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 148 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 MEZ008-009-061815- CENTRAL SOMERSET-NORTHERN FRANKLIN- 148 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOMERSET COUNTY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 215 PM EDT... AT 148 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 4 MILES WEST OF COBURN GORE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND COBURN GORE AND ATTEAN THROUGH 215 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS... CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. KIMBLE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 203 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 MEZ014-021-022-027-028-061830- COASTAL WALDO-INTERIOR WALDO-KENNEBEC-KNOX-SOUTHERN SOMERSET- 203 PM EDT THU MAY 6 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT KENNEBEC COUNTY...SOMERSET COUNTY...WALDO COUNTY AND KNOX COUNTY THROUGH 230 PM EDT... AT 202 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF FAIRFIELD TO 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF MANCHESTER... OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF FAIRFIELD TO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUGUSTA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND OAKLAND... MANCHESTER...CANAAN...BELGRADE...WINSLOW...WATERVILLE...VASSALBORO... SIDNEY...FAIRFIELD AND AUGUSTA THROUGH 230 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS... CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. KIMBLE
The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:07 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and power lines 7 miles west of Rangeley. A wind gust of 48 mph was recorded at the airport in Rangeley as the storm moved through.
A severe thunderstorm downed 3 trees in Skowhegan. A tree was also reported down in nearby Fairfield.
A severe thunderstorm downed several trees and damaged a barn in Hartland.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, May 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: 232474, 232475, 232476.