Severe drought expanded across southeast Aroostook and southern Piscataquis counties during mid August and persisted through the remainder of the month. These areas were in moderate drought at the start of the month.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Severe drought expanded across southeast Aroostook and southern Piscataquis counties during mid August and persisted through the remainder of the month. These areas were in moderate drought at the start of the month. Above average temperatures were reported during August. Rainfall was mostly due to showers and thunderstorms which resulted in variable rain totals. Most areas received 40 to 70 percent of normal rainfall for August...though some areas did receive greater totals with thunderstorms. Widespread rain did not occur during August. In Houlton...the three month period from June to August was the 5th warmest and all-time driest on record. Streamflows during August were generally 15 to 35 percent of normal. At month's end many of the larger rivers were at near record low levels. Grain crops were significantly impacted during August. Potatoes and other crops required extensive irrigation.
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 Aug 10, 11:43 PM EST, 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 1243 AM EDT Tue Aug 11 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Weak high pressure builds overnight. A cold front will approach Tuesday then slowly cross the region Tuesday night through Wednesday. High pressure will build across the region Thursday into Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... Update... Satellite imagery and surface observations indicate low clouds and fog advancing north along the Downeast coast and across southeast portions of the forecast area. This area of low clouds and fog will expand across interior Downeast and eastern portions of the forecast area overnight. Generally expect partly cloudy skies across northwest and west-central portions of the forecast area overnight. Could also have an isolated shower late across northwest and west-central areas. Overnight low temperatures will range from around 60 northwest, to the mid 60s northeast. Generally expect mid 60s across central areas and interior Downeast, with around 60 to the mid 60s along the Downeast coast. Have updated the forecast to adjust for current conditions along with overnight temperatures, clouds and shower chances. Previous Discussion... Heat indices will approach advisory criteria in portions of southern Piscataquis and Penobscot counties by early Tuesday afternoon, but confidence is not high enough to issue a heat advisory at this point. Highs across the forecast area will be near 90F with dew points in the upper 60s. The convective environment becomes interesting for northern zones on Tuesday afternoon. SBCAPE values and mid level lapse rates will hit levels rarely seen this summer. Deep layer shear is lacking initially, but will increase just enough by late afternoon to help produce some stronger storms. There's not a lot of moisture and the only trigger appears to be the remnants of a boundary moving through southern Ontario and western Quebec this afternoon. The cold front will remain well west of the area into Tuesday evening. Forecast thermodynamic profiles point to wind and hail as potential threats. Have added mention of small hail and gusty winds at this point. Heavy rain is also possible with the few cells that organize given the PW values and expected storm motion vectors. Have also mentioned locally heavy rainfall for northern zones later Tuesday afternoon. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... For Tuesday night, showers and tstms into the evening w/heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts possible in some the stronger cells. Training storms possible as their forward movement aligns w/the upper flow. There is strong convergence along the pre-frontal boundary to keep storms going for a while into the late evening. The 12Z NAM is heavy w/this potential. The GFS is similar, but not as strong w/the instability. The focus appears to shift to the se toward the interior Downeast region later in the evening into the overnight hrs. The intensity of the activity however will be weakened w/the loss of heating and shear weakening. It will be a humid night w/overnight temps in the mid/upper 60s. Added the mention of fog given the potential for some partial clearing late at night. For Wednesday, a slow moving cold front will be sliding into the region during the day. More showers and tstms are expected. Mid level forcing is not all that impressive but there is potential for instability. There will be some clouds and fog around in the morning which could linger longer across the eastern sections which could hinder organized development. Mdl soundings show CAPE potential of 2500+ joules across the Maine Central Highlands down across the Penobscot Valley and interior Downeast. Lapse rates on the 12Z GFS and NAM steepen w/available heating to allow organized tstms w/the highest confidence being across SE Aroostook into Nrn and Cntl Washington County. The shear could be the limiting factor, as it appears to be weak per the GFS, but the NAM is bit more aggressive w/its shear to allow for more organized development. Attm, did not include enhanced wording, but some stronger storms could contain some strong wind gusts and even hail given the mid-level cooling w/the front. Another very warm and humid day w/temps in the 80s possibly apchg 90F in the central and downeast areas. The front is forecast to slide into the coastal waters Wednesday night w/some slightly cooler and less humid air seeping in from the nw. Definitely drier air for Thursday but still warm w/temps well into the 80s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... Basically dry right into the weekend w/AOA normal temps. An upper trof is forecast to slide across the region on Friday w/slightly cooler and continued drier air. The 12Z GFS and its ensemble mean showed some light rain showers trying to skirt portions of NE Aroostook County while the 12Z ECMWF backed off on this potential. Attm, decided to lean toward a drier solution as deep moisture appears to be limited. Another spoke of energy rotating around the upper low near Newfoundland is shown by the long range guidance to slide across the region. The ECMWF is more aggressive w/bringing some rain showers, w/some of its ensembles showing this setup. The GFS is drier and keeps any showers in New Brunswick. Stayed w/a consensus apch and stayed w/no mention of showers given the dry airmass in place. Sunday will continue dry as high pres at the surface drifts across the region. The next shot of any shower potential could be on Monday as a frontal system apchs from the w. && .AVIATION /04Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... NEAR TERM: LIFR/VLIFR conditions will occur along the Downeast coast overnight with low clouds and fog. Conditions will lower to LIFR/VLIFR levels across interior Downeast and eastern portions of the forecast area overnight. All fog and low clouds will dissipate Tuesday morning. Strong thunderstorms, potentially to 40000ft, are a threat north of GNR and HUL for later Tuesday afternoon. SHORT TERM: MVFR/IFR Tuesday night w/showers and tstms in the evening and then some fog. Wednesday will feature IFR w/low clouds and cigs in the morning and then an improvement to VFR for KBGR and KBHB. The northern terminals may take a while longer to clear out. Showers and possible tstms possible. Light SSW winds less than 10 mph becoming W on Wednesday. Wednesday night into Thursday...VFR w/the exception of KBGR and KBHB as MVFR and IFR later Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Light W wind becoming NW 5 to 10 mph. Thursday night into Saturday...VFR. NNW winds 5 to 10 mph. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Winds/seas will remain below small craft advisory levels overnight through Tuesday. Visibilities will be reduced in areas of fog overnight through Tuesday. SHORT TERM: Tuesday night into Wednesday...SSW winds 5 to 10 kts. Seas 3-4 ft w/a southerly swell. Areas of fog w/vsbys 1 NM or less. Wednesday night into Thursday...SW winds less than 10 kt becoming WNW around 10 kt. Seas dropping back to 2-3 ft. Fog w/vsbys 1 NM or less. Thursday night into Saturday. NNW winds around 10 kt becoming NNE 10-15 kts by Friday night into Saturday. Seas 2-3 ft gradually building to 3-4 ft. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && Near Term...Norcross/MCW Short Term...Hewitt Long Term...Hewitt Aviation...Norcross/MCW/Hewitt Marine...Norcross/Hewitt
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Caribou ME 343 AM EDT Mon Aug 10 2020 MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-110745- 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- 343 AM EDT Mon Aug 10 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Central Highlands Maine, Coastal DownEast Maine, Far Eastern Maine, Far Northern Maine, Interior DownEast Maine, North Woods Maine and Penobscot Valley Maine. .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. ANZ050>052-110745- 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- 343 AM EDT Mon Aug 10 2020 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.
2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought developed during mid August and persisted through the remainder of the month.
Severe drought developed during mid August and persisted through the remainder of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, August 2020
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: 914272, 914273.