A heat wave with unusually persistent hot and humid conditions occurred across the region from July 2nd through the 5th. Temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s along with dewpoints in the 70s produced heat index readings generally ranging through the 90s.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 heat wave with unusually persistent hot and humid conditions occurred across the region from July 2nd through the 5th. Temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s along with dewpoints in the 70s produced heat index readings generally ranging through the 90s. During this time...heat related emergency room visits and requests for ambulance transport increased. The greatest heat related health impacts occurred with adults aged 65 and older. However...no deaths were considered directly attributable to the heat. A cold front crossing the region during the 6th broke the heat wave.
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 2, 12:25 PM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 125 PM EDT Mon Jul 2 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will cross the area early this morning. Warm high pressure builds this afternoon. Hot and humid conditions are then expected to persist through much of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 12:45pm update... As the sun comes out over much of the CWA, temperatures are starting to respond. Highs temps were dropped a degree in many locations, but given the dewpoints in the upper 60s to around 70, heat index values into at least the lower 90s are still expected across much of the northern CWA. Thus no changes were made to the Heat Advisory at this point. After consulting with GYX, did add some enhanced wording over the northwestern CWA, mainly for parts of Zones 1, 3 and northwestern part of 4. Elevated CAPE will remain after dark, when shear is expected to increase. As the front approaches, many convection allowing models are showing a line of showers and storms moving into the NW'rn CWA around 00z or a bit later. With expected CAPE and shear, it seemed prudent to put in wording for small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Previous discussion... The warm front will set off thunderstorms early this morning north of the Moosehead Lake and Katahdin regions. Thunderstorms are currently moving towards the western international border. A minor shortwave trough with a decent cold pool from H700 to H500 is located about an H850 thermal ridge and generating elevated instabilty with some hail even possible. These features will weaken by mid-morning. This H850 thermal ridge will bring H850 temps some 3 to 5C warmer than yesterday. With afternoon heating, this will translate to afternoon readings in the upper 80s to lower 90s. The MET/NAM/SREF guidance continues to look too cool for today. The axis of highest dew points and temperatures will be along the western international border and has resulted in a rare heat advisory where apparent temperatures above 95F are expected for 2 hours or more. Record highs are not expected today. While most of the area is dealing with a hotter day than yesterday, the Down East region...and even Bangor...will benefit from stronger onshore winds that will equate to lower temperatures than yesterday. These onshore winds will also bring coastal fog and low clouds tonight. Further north, a weakening cold front will approach the northwestern portion of the state late tonight with some elevated instability, but there's not compelling evidence that Monday afternoon's convection in Quebec will hold together well into the night and affect the forecast area. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... Hot and humid conditions will persist Tuesday and Wednesday. Heat Advisories, for heat indices of 95 degrees or hotter, will likely be needed for portions of the forecast area both Tuesday and Wednesday. Otherwise, a weakening cold front will cross the region Tuesday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. The remnants of the front will reach the Gulf of Maine Tuesday night, with an evening shower or thunderstorm possible Downeast. High pressure will then build across the region later Tuesday night into Wednesday with generally mostly clear skies. However, a cold front moving toward northern Maine could produce the slight chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm across northern portions of the forecast area. High temperatures Tuesday will range from around 90 to the lower 90s across much of the forecast area, with around 80 to the mid 80s along the Downeast coast. High temperatures Wednesday will range from around 90 to the lower 90s north, with lower to mid 90s across the remainder of the forecast area inland from the coast. Temperatures along the Downeast coast will range through the 80s to around 90. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Hot and humid conditions will persist Thursday. High pressure will exit to the east early Thursday with a cold front approaching late. Could have a slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms across northern areas. Shower/thunderstorm chances increase Thursday night with the approach of the front. The cold front will cross the region Friday with showers and thunderstorms likely, with strong thunderstorms possible. High pressure will build across the region Saturday into Sunday with cooler drier conditions. && .AVIATION /17Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... NEAR TERM: Thunderstorms have cleared the area as of 13z. MVFR cigs are possible early this morning at FVE and GNR. Elsewhere, a brief period of IFR cigs is possible at BHB and BGR early this morning. All sites will be VFR by mid- morning and stay VFR through tonight with the exception of coastal sites where IFR cigs and vis will roll into tonight. BHB will be affected and the low clouds will probably move as far north as BGR. Thunderstorms may occur again later tonight...affecting northern sites such as FVE and Clayton Lake. SHORT TERM: Variable conditions are expected with any showers/thunderstorms Tuesday. Variable conditions with fog are also possible along the Downeast coast. Generally expect VFR conditions Tuesday night into Thursday. However, could have the slight chance of an afternoon shower/thunderstorm across northern areas both Wednesday and Thursday. Shower/thunderstorm chances begin to increase Thursday night, with showers and thunderstorms likely Friday. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Fog continues to be the dominant issue over the waters as very warm and humid air moves over the waters through tonight. In general, the fog is expected to become more widespread and dense tonight. SHORT TERM: Winds/seas are expected to remain below small craft advisory levels Tuesday through Wednesday night. Showers/thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon into the evening. Visibilities will be reduced in fog Tuesday into Wednesday night. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...Heat Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for MEZ001-003-004. MARINE...None. && Near Term...Kredensor/MCW Short Term...Norcross Long Term...Norcross Aviation...Kredensor/MCW/Norcross Marine...Kredensor/MCW/Norcross
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Caribou ME 400 AM EDT Mon Jul 2 2018 MEZ002-005-006-010-011-015>017-029>032-030800- Northeast Aroostook-Northern Penobscot-Southeast Aroostook- Central Piscataquis-Central Penobscot-Southern Penobscot- Interior Hancock-Central Washington-Coastal Hancock- Coastal Washington-Southern Piscataquis-Northern Washington- 400 AM EDT Mon Jul 2 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Coastal DownEast Maine, East Central Maine, Eastern Maine, Far Northern Maine, Interior DownEast Maine, North Central Maine and Northern Maine. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Heat and humidity is expected much of the upcoming fourth of July holiday week. Heat indices could reach 95 degrees or higher, especially on Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ001-003-004-030800- Northwest Aroostook-Northern Somerset-Northern Piscataquis- 400 AM EDT Mon Jul 2 2018 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Far Northern Maine, North Central Maine and West Central Maine. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Heat and humidity is expected much of the upcoming fourth of July holiday week. Heat indices could reach 95 degrees or higher, especially on Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ050>052-030800- 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- 400 AM EDT Mon Jul 2 2018 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...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.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
Maximum Heat Index values generally ranged through the 90s during the heat wave.
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, July 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: 774421, 774423, 774424, 774426, 774427, 774428, 774430, 774432, 774434, 774435, 774436, 774438, 774439, 774440, 774441.