High Wind in Maine, October 30, 2017

Name: High Wind in Maine, October 30, 2017
Start: 2017-10-30T03:00
End: 2017-10-30T12:00
Location: Maine

October 30, 2017 · NWS CAR · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

with a boost from the remnants of what had been Tropical Storm Philippe. A very tight pressure gradient between the low and high pressure to the east supported the development of a strong low level jet which crossed the region through the morning of the 30th in advance of a cold front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 CAR wrote it up.

Rapidly intensifying low pressure lifted across western New England during the 30th...with a boost from the remnants of what had been Tropical Storm Philippe. A very tight pressure gradient between the low and high pressure to the east supported the development of a strong low level jet which crossed the region through the morning of the 30th in advance of a cold front. The strongest winds occurred during the morning of the 30th when south to southeast wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common...with some gusts in excess of 70 mph. The strongest winds occurred in a region from Hancock county...southern and central Penobscot county...central and southern Piscataquis county into northern Somerset county. |The strong winds produced extensive tree damage in the area from Hancock county...across southern and central Penobscot county...southern and central Piscataquis county into northern Somerset county. The number of trees toppled...snapped or damaged is estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Leaves still on many trees and saturated ground contributed to the extensive tree damage. The falling trees and branches brought down power lines and snapped utility poles producing extensive damage to the electrical grid. Power outages began during the early morning hours of the 30th...then rapidly increased through the morning into early afternoon. Power outages within the EMERA Maine service area peaked at around 90,000 customers, which represented around 56% of their customer base. Power outages within the Eastern Maine Power service area peaked around 10,000 customers. The extensive damage to the electrical grid and number of snapped and uprooted trees hindered the recovery process. Roads blocked by fallen trees also slowed the recovery process. Full power was not restored until November 7th.|Trees falling on structures...vehicles and fences produced damage of varying degrees. The winds also produced roof and structural damage to shingles and siding. Signs were also bent or toppled. Damage to public infrastructure was estimated at $217,873 in Hancock county...$667,682 in Penobscot county and $68,396 in Piscataquis county. This damage...in addition to major damage across the remainder of the state...prompted a Disaster Declaration. Significant damage to private property also occurred, though monetary estimates were unavailable.

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 Caribou, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 29, 11:13 PM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 29, 11:13 PM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 30, 2:43 AM EST, 17 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

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Coastal Hancock

When: October 30, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Hancock forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common...with a peak gust of 73 mph reported at Brooklin.

High Wind, Southern Penobscot

When: October 30, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Penobscot forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common with a peak gust of 66 mph measured at Bangor.

High Wind, Interior Hancock

When: October 30, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Hancock forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 44.563, -68.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common...with peak wind gusts estimated at around 65 mph.

High Wind, Central Piscataquis

When: October 30, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Central Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common with a peak gust of 61 mph measured at Greenville.

High Wind, Southern Piscataquis

When: October 30, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Piscataquis forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 45.837, -69.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common...with peak wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph.

High Wind, Central Penobscot

When: October 30, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Central Penobscot forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 45.401, -68.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. The falling trees and branches produced extensive damage to the electrical grid snapping utility poles and downing power lines with widespread power outages. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common with peak wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph.

High Wind, Northern Somerset

When: October 30, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Somerset forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 45.514, -69.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds with a strong low level jet toppled and snapped numerous trees along with broken branches. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common...with peak wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maine in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Maine, October 2017

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: 724673, 724678, 724679, 724680, 724683, 724684, 724685.