A warm front lifting north through western Maine was the focus for showers and thunderstorms during the evening of August 17th. A few of these storms produced wind damage in south central Maine during the late evening hours.
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 warm front lifting north through western Maine was the focus for showers and thunderstorms during the evening of August 17th. A few of these storms produced wind damage in south central Maine during the late evening hours.
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 Aug 17, 5:30 PM EST, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 630 PM EDT Fri Aug 17 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will cross the region tonight as low pressure moves through northern Maine. The low will shift east into the maritimes Saturday with a trailing cold front pushing offshore by evening. High pressure will build in from the northeast Saturday night through Sunday and then hold over the region Monday and Tuesday. Low pressure will move in from the west Tuesday night and Wednesday. High pressure will build in from the west Wednesday night and Thursday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... 6pm update... Have trended the Pops downward through tonight. Still expecting convection to impact the area with some risk for stronger thunderstorms to contain damaging winds however the coverage looking to the west isn't quite high enough to justify definite pops, so have dropped to likely across the area. Showers that are forming are producing very heavy rainfall so expect QPF amounts to vary widely with the scattered nature of the convection. Prev disc...Warm front currently pushing northeast through the Connecticut Valley early this afternoon. A band of light to moderate showers are accompanying this boundary across west central and northern New Hampshire with some thunderstorms pushing into southwest New Hampshire. Moderate onshore flow in southeast New Hampshire will likely inhibit this convection as it continues east through mid afternoon. Clearing in the warm sector noted in sat pics over eastern New York and southwest Vermont and this area of clearing will shift into southern and central New Hampshire towards evening. Big question will be how much CAPE can be generated with this clearing coming so late in the day but latest radar loop showing convection quickly firing in areas which cleared first in east central New York and this activity should push into western New Hampshire during the evening hours. Main threat with any severe storms will be mostly wind damage. With freezing levels above 15KFT will probably only see small hail if any. Later this evening expect shower and scattered thunderstorms to continue as low pressure shifts into northern zones along a slow moving frontal boundary. With PWAT's at 1.5 to 2 inches would expect heavy rainfall in any convection and any training cells may cause flash flooding issues. Low temperatures overnight will remain mild with readings generally ranging through the 60s to near 70 in the far south. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT/... Frontal boundary will gradually sag south through the region Saturday as weak low pressure moves east along it. This will keep rain in the forecast for much of the day...especially in southern zones. May develop enough CAPE in the afternoon in southern New Hampshire to pop off a few thunderstorms but most of the region should just see rain. The front will gradually shift offshore Saturday afternoon with showers ending in northern and central portions of the forecast area. Showers and clouds will likely linger in southern and coastal zones into the evening hours. Highs on Saturday will range from the mid 60s north to near 80 in the far south. Clouds will gradually clear Saturday night as high pressure begins to build south from Canada. Would expect areas of fog in the usual locations after midnight. Lows will range from the lower 50s north to the lower 60s south. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The extended forecast will feature some battling between the 500 MB sub-tropical ridging over the wrn Atlantic, and some cooler troughing extending off Arctic near nrn Hudson Bay. Overall, thru the period, the ridge should enough to keep the energetic part of the trough well to our N, but it should allow some more moderate 850 MB temps to settle over the region, pretty close to normal anyway, based on sounding climatology. Initially, though will see more NE flow, and some of that cold-air damming signature we saw a little of last week, then some warming around the middle of the week, followed by another could down to normal toward the end of the week. No major systems in our areas, but will see several chance for showers/convection. Sunday should be a decent day with partly to mostly sunny skies /sunniest in the N/, but cool with NE flow, with highs mainly in the 70s. There a slight chance for a shower in srn NH and the ME coast as the front remains stalled to the south, but there should be enough dry flow from the NE to prevent anything more than a quick shower or sprinkle in this area. Models continue to struggle with weak wave passing to our south for Sunday night an Monday, and therefore will keep some chc to slt chc pops going in the srn zones in this time frame, but again it looks best activity would remain S of the CWA. Sunday mins should be in the mid 50s to low 60s, with highs on Monday in then 70s again. After a brief break Mon night into Tue night, will see another chc for showers ans t-storms Wednesday, as low pressure passes to our N and drags a cold front across the region. This should bring a decent day Thu with temps coming in around normal again. Could see things warm up gain toward the end of next week. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Short Term...Areas of MVFR/IFR ceilings/vsby developing overnight and persisting through Saturday. Becoming VFR with areas of IFR/LIFR ceilings/vsby in valley fog Saturday night. Long Term...For the most part, should see VFR Sunday through Tue night, with vly fog possible each night. Sct SHRA/TSRA possible on Wed. && .MARINE... Short Term...SCA's may be needed Saturday night. Long Term...Border SCA conds possible in NE flow on Sunday. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...Curtis SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION... MARINE...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gray ME 324 PM EDT Fri Aug 17 2018 ANZ151-MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>015-181930- Penobscot Bay-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-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-Interior Rockingham- Coastal Rockingham-Western And Central Hillsborough- 324 PM EDT Fri Aug 17 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters, Maine, south central Maine, southwest Maine, west central Maine, western Maine, New Hampshire, central New Hampshire, northern New Hampshire and southern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. A warm and moist air mass will move in late this afternoon and this evening. Some strong to severe thunderstorms are possible behind the front. The primary hazard will be strong winds, but hail or an isolated tornado is possible, especially in central and southern New Hampshire. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ150-152>154-181930- Coastal Waters from Stonington, ME to Port Clyde, ME out 25 NM- Coastal Waters from Port Clyde, ME to Cape Elizabeth, ME out 25 NM- Casco Bay- Coastal Waters from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Merrimack River, MA out 25 NM- 324 PM EDT Fri Aug 17 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
926 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM FLASH FLOOD HANOVER 43.70N 72.29W
08/17/2018 GRAFTON NH DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROUTE 10 AT PINNEO HILL RD IS CLOSE DUE TO FLOODING
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1803429
PATTERSONSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
948 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
NHZ008-180215-
Merrimack-
948 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL MERRIMACK COUNTY...
At 948 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Warner, or near
Henniker, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Concord, Franklin, Henniker, Hopkinton, Loudon, Canterbury, Bradford,
Warner, Hillsborough, Boscawen, Webster, Salisbury, Northfield,
Pittsfield and Sulton.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 89 between mile markers 10 and 22.
Interstate 93 between mile markers 42 and 53.
LAT...LON 4344 7153 4336 7137 4333 7133 4312 7186
4320 7191 4320 7194 4327 7199
TIME...MOT...LOC 0148Z 241DEG 35KT 4323 7179
ARNOTTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
957 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
MEZ012-019-020-024-180245-
Southern Oxford-Androscoggin-Interior Cumberland-Coastal Cumberland-
957 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN OXFORD...
ANDROSCOGGIN AND CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...
At 957 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Naples to near Gorham. Movement was
east at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Lewiston, Brunswick, Westbrook, Bridgton, Mechanic Falls, Naples,
Topsham, Turner, Cumberland, Gorham, Falmouth, Buxton, Freeport,
Gray, Raymond, Standish, Yarmouth, Lisbon, Greene and Durham.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 295 between mile markers 17 and 29.
Interstate 95 between mile markers 54 and 88.
This also includes...
Sebago Lake and Long Lake.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 4371 7055 4370 7057 4404 7069 4428 7013
4405 7002 4402 7004 4400 7003 4399 7005
4398 7003 4395 7002 4391 6998 4392 6997
4388 6995 4368 7051
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 252DEG 27KT 4403 7060 4369 7048
ARNOTTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1008 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 PM FLASH FLOOD DUBLIN 42.91N 72.06W
08/17/2018 CHESHIRE NH AMATEUR RADIO
HOMES FLOODING ON 551 MAIN STREET, PEOPLE ARE BEING
RESCUED FROM THESE HOMES
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1803430
PATTERSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1010 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0958 PM FLASH FLOOD HANCOCK 42.97N 71.98W
08/17/2018 HILLSBOROUGH NH AMATEUR RADIO
ROAD WASHOUT ON 19 MILE ROAD
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1803431
PATTERSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1012 PM EDT FRI AUG 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0924 PM FLASH FLOOD HANCOCK 42.97N 71.98W
08/17/2018 HILLSBOROUGH NH AMATEUR RADIO
ROAD WASHOUTS ON CAVENDAR ROAD AT KIMBLE ROAD, MIDDLE
ROAD AT TANNERY HILL ROAD
&&
EVENT NUMBER GYX1803432
PATTERSONThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:33 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees on Summer Street in Auburn.
A severe thunderstorm downed/uprooted trees in the Burns Road and Cecile Avenue section of North Augusta.
A severe thunderstorm downed trees and wires on Leighton Road in Augusta.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, August 2018
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: 778660, 778661, 778662.