Strong heating ahead of an approaching cold front generated moderate to strong instability. Instability increased as the front neared and a large line formed ahead of the front...
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.
Strong heating ahead of an approaching cold front generated moderate to strong instability. Instability increased as the front neared and a large line formed ahead of the front... with numerous smaller cells forming out in front of the main line. Most severe reports were almost exclusively associated with wind damage as numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the forecast area. In addition, lightning struck the lodge at Mt. Abram Ski Resort and ignited a fire that heavily damaged the lodge.
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 6, 2:59 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 359 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST AND WILL CROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA TOMORROW THROUGH FRIDAY. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE NORTHEAST SATURDAY NIGHT AND WILL MOVE OFFSHORE ON SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED OFF THE EAST COAST MONDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. THE COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... MINOR FORECAST UPDATE TO TREND POP TO CURRENT SPEED OF THE LINE OF TSTMS WORKING THRU VT ATTM. MORE ISOLD TSTMS ARE POPPING AHEAD OF THE LINE AND WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NRN GRAFTON AND OXFORD AND ALL OF COOS COUNTIES FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. MARGINALLY SVR HAIL WILL BE A THREAT WITH THE STRONGEST UPDRAFTS...BUT DAMAGING WINDS REMAIN THE CONCERN. KCXX 88D SAMPLED MULTIPLE SIGNATURES SHOWING AOA 60 KT WINDS DOWN TO 200 TO 300 FT. THE RESULT HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE IN PARTS OF THE WFO BTV CWFA. DCAPE IS INCREASING THROUGHOUT NH AND EXTREME WRN ME...AND LLVL LAPSE RATES REMAIN IN EXCESS OF 8 C/KMK. THIS WIND THREAT SHOULD BE REALIZED IN THE CT RIVER VALLEY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR...MOVING EWD AFTER THAT. THE ADDITIONAL THREATS OF HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE APPARENT WITH THE LINE. WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND STABILIZATION OF THE BOUNDARY LYR..EXPECT THE LINE TO GRADUALLY WEAKEN AS IT APPROACHES THE COAST THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...TSTMS WILL LKLY CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING POSSIBLE. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE CWFA FOR THU. THIS WILL KEEP THINGS QUIET AND DRY. TEMPS A MAV/MET BLEND. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE FORECAST AREA ON FRIDAY. LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN TRACK SOUTH OF THE REGION AND OUT TO SEA. THE RESULT FOR NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND SHOULD ONLY BE SOME CLOUDS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD AGAIN ON SUNDAY AND WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHES ON TUESDAY. && .AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... SHORT TERM...VFR EXPECTED FOR THE MOST PART TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY EXCEPT IN SCT THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SFC WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40KT POSSIBLE TODAY IN STORMS. LONG TERM...PRIMARILY VFR THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. IF SATURDAYS SYSTEM TRACK A BIT FURTHER NORTH THEN WE MIGHT SEE SOME IFR CIGS/VSBYS. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM...WINDS AND SEAS EXPECTED TO REMAIN BLO SCA CRITERIA. THOUGH WINDS WILL GUST TO NEAR 20 KT THIS AFTN. SOME STRONG TSTMS ARE POSSIBLE COMING OFF THE LAND THIS EVE...BEFORE WEAKENING TNGT. LONG TERM...NO FLAGS EXPECTED. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. NH...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...LEGRO SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION... MARINE...
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 153 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 MEZ007>009-012>014-NHZ001>009-071800- NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN OXFORD- SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS- NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SOUTHERN CARROLL- SULLIVAN-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP- 153 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 605 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NORTHERN 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. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH TOWARDS THE AREA TODAY AND CROSS TONIGHT. A VERY WARM AND INCREASINGLY HUMID AIR MASS AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY TO TRIGGER SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR TODAY. HOWEVER...WESTERLY WINDS AT THE SURFACE MAY KEEP THE SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE SOMEWHAT MORE ISOLATED IN NATURE. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TODAY WILL LIKELY BE ACROSS NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WESTERN MAINE. .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. MEZ018>028-NHZ010-013-014-071800- INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC- INTERIOR WALDO-COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN- KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM- 153 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH TOWARDS THE AREA TODAY AND CROSS TONIGHT. A VERY WARM AND INCREASINGLY HUMID AIR MASS AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY TO TRIGGER SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR TODAY. HOWEVER...WESTERLY WINDS AT THE SURFACE MAY KEEP THE SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE SOMEWHAT MORE ISOLATED IN NATURE. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS MAY MOVE OUT OF THE WATCH AREA ONTO THE COASTAL PLAIN THIS EVENING. ANY STORM MAY BE CAPABLE FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL AS THEY DO SO. .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>154-071800- 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- 153 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 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. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .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 435 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 MEZ007-012-062100- NORTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN OXFORD- 435 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT OXFORD COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM EDT... AT 435 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 4 MILES WEST OF NEWRY...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF BETHEL...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND BETHEL...NEWRY...MILTON...HANOVER... RUMFORD AND MEXICO THROUGH 500 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS... EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND STORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 5 MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. LAT...LON 4465 7057 4443 7043 4438 7091 4456 7096 MC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
444 PM EDT WED JUL 06 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0436 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E COLUMBIA 44.85N 71.53W
07/06/2011 COOS NH AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN BLOCKING THE ROAD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. TIME
ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1100268
LEGROSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 444 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 MEZ008-009-062130- CENTRAL SOMERSET-NORTHERN FRANKLIN- 444 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOMERSET COUNTY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT... AT 444 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TIM POND...OR ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EUSTIS...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND TIM POND...EUSTIS...STRATTON...CARRABASSETT VALLEY...FLAGSTAFF LAKE...CARATUNK...THE FORKS AND LAKE MOXIE THROUGH 530 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS... EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND STORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 5 MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. LAT...LON 4570 6980 4515 6966 4500 7074 4554 7056 MC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
445 PM EDT WED JUL 06 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG LITTLETON 44.31N 71.77W
07/06/2011 GRAFTON NH TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN BOCKING THE ROAD IN TOWN.
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1100269
LEGROPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
449 PM EDT WED JUL 06 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG STRATFORD 44.66N 71.56W
07/06/2011 COOS NH AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 3 IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1100270
LEGROThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:11 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees throughout Rumford.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees on Route 2 in Hanover.
A severe thunderstorm produced estimated gusts of 50 to 60 mph near Rumford.
A severe thunderstorm produced a measured gust of 58 mph at the Rangely Airport.
A severe thunderstorm produced numerous reports of trees down in Bethel.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees in Rumford Corner, one of which landed on a house.
A severe thunderstorm produced significant tree damage in and around Hanover with numerous 80 to 90 year old pine trees snapped or uprooted.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on wires near Weld.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees at Long Falls Dam and on School Street in New Portland.
A severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees in and around Jay.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on wires in Dixfield.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Top Hat Road in Rumford.
A lightning strike ignited a fire that heavily damaged the main lodge at the Mt. Abram Ski Resort. Damage was estimated at 1 million dollars.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on wires in Peru.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Paris Hill Road in Buckfield.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees in Vassalboro.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Route 219 and Rural Route 140 in Sumner.
A severe thunderstorm snapped 2 large trees on private property in East Raymond.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on wires in Winthrop.
A severe thunderstorm downed an 8 inch tree in a yard in Winthrop.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Garfield Road in Auburn.
A severe thunderstorm produced multiple reports of trees down in Lewiston.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees in Detroit.
A severe thunderstorm produced 1 inch hail and strong gusty winds near North Windham.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, July 2011
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: 331334, 331335, 331347, 331361, 331336, 331337, 331339, 331341, 331342, 331343, 331345, 331346, 338188, 331353, 331355, 331356, 331357, 331363, 331349, 331358, 331360, 331351, 331352, 331333.