with a strong cold front following during the late afternoon and evening. Severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and persisted into the evening producing damaging winds and large hail.
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 CAR wrote it up.
A pre-frontal surface trof moved across the region during the early to mid afternoon hours of the 18th...with a strong cold front following during the late afternoon and evening. Severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and persisted into the evening producing damaging winds and large hail. A weak tornado also briefly occurred several miles north of Caribou.
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 Caribou, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 18, 11:37 AM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 1237 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will approach from the northwest today and will cross the area tonight. High pressure will follow with a drier and cooler air mass Tuesday. The next cold front will cross northern New England Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 1230 PM Update...SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire forecast area. The first severe storms are tracking rapidly towards Piscataquis and Penobscot counties. Severe thunderstorm warnings will likely be needed in these counties within the next two hours. Damaging winds remain the number one threat with these storms. Previous discussion... The main concern in the near term is the potential for severe weather this afternoon and evening. The Storm Prediction Center has the area from Bangor and Topsfield north in a slight risk. The CWA is usually only in a slight risk a couple of times each summer. A strong cold front near James Bay early this morning will move across Quebec today and into the Saint Lawrence River Valley by early evening. The front will then sweep across the forecast area this evening and will move off the Downeast coast overnight. The PWATS are around 1.5 inches this afternoon, and there will be increasing shear this afternoon ahead of the front. There will likely be a pre-frontal trough that moves into the western zones during the afternoon. The main concern will be for damaging wind gusts, but any storms that really get going with very strong updrafts could contain large hail, but the threat of wind is higher than that of hail. Will beef up the wording and include damaging winds and large hail for areas inland from the coast. The threat of severe weather will likely come to an end by 9 PM, with the last of the showers to move off the coast around or shortly after midnight. Cooler and drier air will gradually filter into northern area overnight. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Cool Canadian high pressure builds into Maine for dry weather and below normal temperatures. Highs will struggle to get to 70 degrees across the Crown of Maine with low to mid 70s Downeast. Lows will dip down in to the upper 40s across the Northern Maine Woods Tuesday Night. Highs will warm 5 to 7 degrees on Wednesday but still be below normal for mid July. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Temperatures will warm to above normal levels on Thursday as the surface high pressure system moves offshore. Humidity levels will increase as well with moisture streaming northward in the return flow. A cold front is forecast to pass through northern New England on Friday with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. The associated upper level trough quickly pushes offshore Friday Night. A shortwave ridge brings drier weather back to the state on Saturday before another upper trough approaches Maine on Sunday for more convection. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... NEAR TERM: VLIFR to IFR in low clouds and and fog early this morning will give way to VFR by mid morning. Variable conditons in thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Some storms may have tops to 45k ft agl with sfc wind gusts to 50+ kts and large hail. Conditions will improve to VFR tonight as the cold front sweeps off the coast. SHORT TERM: VFR conditions will prevail through Thursday. MVFR cigs and vsbys will be possible in marine stratus and fog at KBGR and KBHB Thursday Night and in showers and thunderstorms at all TAF sites on Friday. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Areas of fog will produce poor visibility at times until the cold front sweeps off the coast late tonight. The seas will build later today into tonight ahead of an approaching cold front to 4 to 5 ft on the coastal waters. It appears that conditions will remain just below sca levels. SHORT TERM: A SCA for seas may be needed on Friday. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && Near Term...CB/MCW Short Term...Okulski Long Term...Okulski Aviation...CB/MCW/Okulski Marine...CB/MCW/Okulski
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 1113 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-191515- NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK-NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN SOMERSET- NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT- INTERIOR HANCOCK-CENTRAL WASHINGTON-COASTAL HANCOCK- COASTAL WASHINGTON-SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN WASHINGTON- 1113 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 394 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL DOWNEAST MAINE...EAST CENTRAL MAINE...EASTERN MAINE...FAR NORTHERN MAINE...INTERIOR DOWNEAST MAINE...NORTH CENTRAL MAINE...NORTHERN MAINE AND WEST CENTRAL MAINE. .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...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ050>052-191515- COASTAL WATERS FROM EASTPORT, ME TO SCHOODIC POINT, ME OUT 25 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT, ME TO STONINGTON, ME OUT 25 NM- INTRA COASTAL WATERS FROM SCHOODIC POINT, ME TO STONINGTON, ME- 1113 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. AREAS OF FOG WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 905 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 MEZ001>006-010-011-015-031-032-181615- NORTHWEST AROOSTOOK-NORTHEAST AROOSTOOK-NORTHERN SOMERSET- NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN PENOBSCOT-SOUTHEAST AROOSTOOK- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-CENTRAL PENOBSCOT-SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT- SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS-NORTHERN WASHINGTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALLAGASH...CLAYTON LAKE...MADAWASKA... FORT KENT...FRENCHVILLE...PRESQUE ISLE...CARIBOU...VAN BUREN... MARS HILL...BAKER LAKE...BILLY-JACK DEPOT...BAXTER ST PARK... CHAMBERLAIN LAKE...CHURCHILL DAM...MOUNT KATAHDIN...MILLINOCKET... EAST MILLINOCKET...PATTEN...MEDWAY...HOULTON...HODGDON... SHERMAN...SMYRNA MILLS...GREENVILLE...MONSON...BLANCHARD... LINCOLN...HOWLAND...SPRINGFIELD...BANGOR...BREWER...ORONO... OLD TOWN...DOVER-FOXCROFT...MILO...GUILFORD...DANFORTH... VANCEBORO...TOPSFIELD 905 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 ...SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AFTER 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE NORTH WOODS. STORMS WILL MOVE SOUTH AND EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREAT. A FEW STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL. FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH ALL STORMS SO IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR TODAY, LISTEN TO THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
927 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM TSTM WND DMG NEWPORT 44.84N 69.28W
07/17/2016 PENOBSCOT ME DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ONE TREE DOWN IN NEWPORT, RELAYED FROM TOWN
PUBLIC WORKS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&
FMKThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:18 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was toppled on to a house in Abbot...producing minor damage to the house...by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were toppled around town by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were toppled around town by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Trees were toppled along Route 7...just south of Dover-Foxcroft...by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph.
Around a dozen trees were toppled or snapped around town by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph.
Around a dozen trees were toppled or snapped around town by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph.
The tops of many trees were snapped by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph.
Two trees were toppled along Route 155...south of Lincoln...by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Trees and utility poles were toppled around town by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph.
Trees were toppled on to power lines by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Two trees were toppled in Exeter by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Power lines were reported down in Exeter with wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
A gazebo was destroyed and several heavy adirondack chairs were tossed off a deck by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Trees were toppled on the road between Exeter and Stetson by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Several trees were toppled by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Two trees were toppled along Route 6...between Topsfield and Kossuth Township...by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Trees were toppled on the Kenduskeag - Levant Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Several trees were toppled on Route 7 near Corinna by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Power lines were downed along Greenfield Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Numerous trees were toppled or snapped at Pushaw Lake Campground by wind gusts estimated at 70 mph. Two campers were totaled by falling trees. A sign with 2 inch metal supports was bent backward by the wind.
Numerous trees were toppled or snapped...along with downed power lines...near Pushaw Lake by wind gusts estimated at 70 mph.
An estimated 15 to 20 trees were toppled or snapped between Topsfield and Brookton by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph. The time is estimated.
Two trees were toppled along Talmadge Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
The time is estimated.
An estimated 30 trees were toppled or snapped at a camp on the east side of Etna Lake by wind gusts estimated at 65 mph. The time is estimated.
The time is estimated.
The time is estimated.
Numerous trees were toppled across town by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Several trees were toppled across town by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were toppled between Hermon and Carmel by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Power lines were downed at Wilson and Main Streets by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Three trees were toppled by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
A supercell thunderstorm produced a brief EF-0 tornado. The short lived EF-0 tornado...with estimated maximum winds around 80 mph...touched down on the north side of Tangle Ridge Road then travelled around a 100 yards into the woods. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees along its short path (DI28, DOD3). The tornado could have briefly touched down again further to the east-northeast along the path of the storm. However...forestation and lack of roads in the area limited the damage survey.
The time is estimated.
The time is estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Maine, 2016Warnings in Maine, July 2016
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: 651716, 651714, 651712, 651724, 651727, 651729, 651720, 651709, 651746, 651740, 651726, 651708, 651733, 651738, 651737, 651697, 651701, 651704, 651694, 651692, 651693, 651690, 651691, 651745, 651689, 651744, 651753, 651687, 651683, 651681, 651743, 651679, 651758, 651751, 651748, 651759.