Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 28th in advance of an approaching cold front. Some of the thunderstorms became severe across northern and east-central areas 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.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 28th in advance of an approaching cold front. Some of the thunderstorms became severe across northern and east-central areas producing damaging winds and large hail.
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 28, 10:55 AM EST, 2 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 1155 AM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A weak cold front will briefly stall across the area today then continue south to the coast tonight. The front will push offshore Friday into Friday night as low pressure along the front tracks south of the area. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 1145 AM Update: Currently, a few more tstms ovr W cntrl and N cntrl ptns of the FA, especially near Moosehead lk. We xpct tstm cvrg to cont to xpnd into the aftn msly S of a weakly defined broad frontal zone currently ovr far Nrn ME. Max PoPs were bumped up to 70 percent ovr Cntrl ptns of the FA. Otherwise, msly minor chgs to fcst hi temps and hrly fcst temps into the aftn hrs based on latest midday obs. Prev Disc: Cold front is on our doorstep with isold showers breaking out ahd of it. Tstorm is located north of the Vermont border and will continue to approach CWA this mrng. Expect as front drops south, that showers and thunderstorms wl dvlp drg htg with airmass destabilizing. Temps acrs the north wl rise into the m/u 70s and Downeast zones in the lwr 80s. This combined with dwpts still in the 60s, wl result in CAPES on the order of 1000 J/kg along the front. Wl retain gusty wind mention along with locally hvy rainfall as pw values appch 1.75 inches drg the aftn, mainly fm a Danforth-Dover line. Front looks to mv as far south as Downeast by midnight tonight bfr stalling. Expect tstms to diminish twd midnight with a few showers lingering along the bndry acrs the south. With srly flow advecting in moisture and dwpts rmng in the 60s expect patchy fog to dvlp cwa- wide once again tonight. Areas of fog can be expected ovr the waters and potential exist for widespread fog to advect on the coast and wl allow later shifts to expand this mention north. Northern zones wl dip into the 50s in the wake of frontal passage with Downeast zones still experiencing 60s tonight. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... A weak cold front stalled along the coast early Friday will allow for the chance of showers Downeast as northern areas become partly cloudy. A small low tracking east from southern New England will then track along the southern edge of the Gulf of Maine late Friday into Friday night. As the low approaches, there will likely be a period of steadier stratiform rain over Downeast coastal areas with some showers or patchy rain further inland. Capes are progged to be near 750 J/KG Downeast on Friday. Although the precipitation may be stratiform, some lift from a weak upper level shortwave carrying the low east may be just enough to spawn some embedded convection so will include a slight chance for thunderstorms Downeast too. The low will exit east Friday night as high pressure builds in from the west bringing clearing and slightly cooler and drier air across the region. This will set the stage for a mostly sunny, dry and comfortable day on Saturday as the high pushes in. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... High pressure across the area will bring a clear and pleasant night Saturday night followed by sunshine again on Sunday. Sunday night will likely remain mostly clear as high pressure stays over the area. Our focus then turns to a weak wave of low pressure tracking off the Mid Atlantic coast. This system may brush the Downeast coast with some rain late Sunday night into Monday. The latest GFS carries most of the moisture from this system south of our region with the ECMWF bringing a better chance for some rain Sunday night into Monday. Shallow shortwave ridging returns with dry weather Tuesday into Wednesday as the low moves away. However, a back door frontal boundary to our northeast may be close enough to bring some thundershowers to northern areas Tuesday and again on Wednesday. However, once the low moves away early next week, Downeast will be mostly sunny and dry into mid week. && .AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NEAR TERM: VFR at most terminals next 24 hours. Exception may be BHB this morning with IFR vsbys forecast to develop in the next svrl hours, continuing through 12Z. MVFR restrictions expected in fog after 00z tonight with potential for IFR/LIFR toward end of taf valid time. At BGR may see MVFR vsbys between 03z and 06z Fri in southerly flow along stalled frontal boundary. Further to the north, expect VCTS at any point after 18z this afternoon. Any terminal experiencing -tsra will likely see lower restrictions and variable conditions. SHORT TERM: VFR conditions are expected across the north on Friday with IFR conditions in low clouds and some rain Downeast. Conditions should improve to VFR across the entire area Friday night then be VFR Saturday into Sunday. VFR conditions are likely Monday, except may lower to MVFR along the downeast coast on Monday as another small low tracks offshore. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Winds and seas will remain below SCA through tonight. Expect areas of fog to develop again after midnight over the waters. SHORT TERM: Winds and seas are expected to remain below SCA Friday through the weekend. Some fog may limit visibilities on the water early Friday. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && Near Term...VJN Short Term...Bloomer Long Term...Bloomer Aviation...VJN/Bloomer Marine...VJN/Bloomer
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 255 AM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-290700- 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- 255 AM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 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...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... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ050>052-290700- 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- 255 AM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .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... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 1214 PM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 MEZ010-031-281700- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS- 1214 PM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS COUNTY... AT 1213 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GREENVILLE... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GREENVILLE...WHITE CAP MOUNTAIN...FRENCHTOWN...EBEEMEE... ELLIOTTSVILLE...BROWNVILLE...BEAVER COVE...KATAHDIN IRON WORKS... LILY BAY AND WILLIAMSBURG. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 4548 6968 4565 6967 4570 6904 4538 6905 TIME...MOT...LOC 1613Z 270DEG 26KT 4554 6958 NOUHAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 106 PM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 MEZ010-031-281730- CENTRAL PISCATAQUIS-SOUTHERN PISCATAQUIS- 106 PM EDT THU JUL 28 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN PISCATAQUIS COUNTY... AT 104 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITE CAP MOUNTAIN...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF BROWNVILLE JUNCTION. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BROWNVILLE JUNCTION...WHITE CAP MOUNTAIN...EBEEMEE...FRENCHTOWN... ELLIOTTSVILLE...BROWNVILLE...WILLIMANTIC...BEAVER COVE...BOWERBANK... KATAHDIN IRON WORKS...EBEEMEE LAKE...WILLIAMSBURG... ONAWA AND BARNARD. THIS INCLUDES STATE HIGHWAY 11 NEAR BROWNVILLE JUNCTION. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IN ADDITION TO HEAVY RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. PERSONS IN CAMPGROUNDS SHOULD CONSIDER SEEKING STURDY SHELTER UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. LAT...LON 4563 6898 4534 6899 4534 6940 4563 6940 TIME...MOT...LOC 1704Z 180DEG 0KT 4549 6920 NOUHAN
The Caribou radar (KCBW), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:54 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were toppled on the Washburn Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Numerous trees were toppled and snapped...along with downed power lines...on Merrill Pond by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Trees were toppled along Winn Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Trees were toppled along Route 6 by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Four trees were toppled near mile marker 238 on Interstate 95 by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Several trees were toppled along Route 168 by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
Several trees were toppled around town by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Trees were toppled along Curtis Farm Road by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Five trees were toppled along Route 163 near Haystack Mountain by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The trees blocked the road.
Trees were toppled on the University of Maine Presque Isle campus by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. 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 historyWarnings 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: 651766, 651769, 651773, 651776, 651778, 651782, 651786, 651789, 651792, 651797, 651799, 651801, 651803, 651804.