Thunderstorms developed across Downeast areas during the afternoon of the 25th in advance of a strong cold front crossing the region. producing damaging winds.
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 across Downeast areas during the afternoon of the 25th in advance of a strong cold front crossing the region. Some of the thunderstorms turned severe...producing damaging winds.
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 25, 12:18 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 118 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will cross the region today. Cool Canadian high pressure then builds across the region Wednesday into Friday. Low pressure could bring a chance of rain or showers Saturday into Sunday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 1 PM update: Severe weather forecast remains on track for this afternoon with the cold front now entering the St John Valley. Pre-frontal thunderstorms are now exiting the Downeast region. Cold front convection will propagate southward towards the coast by late afternoon. Damaging winds remain the chief threat. There is added concern regarding winds today and tomorrow with so many large tents having been set up this summer. Prev Disc: Since we issued the dense fog adv ovr the Srn hlf of the FA, fog, for the most part has not been that dense, and if this trend conts, we will likely drop the adv on our next update. Otherwise, the main fcst conts to be the potential of strong cnvctn across our FA this aftn possible into very erly eve exiting across the far SE. We noted that SPC has bisected our FA nearly in hlf, with the NW hlf dropped back into marginal risk while the SE remains in a slight risk. Based on the tmg of the cold front shown by models, this scenario seem reasonable, with the best cnvctn firing from a Presque Isle to Baxter State Park line swrd beginning erly aftn, reaching a max intensity mid to late aftn going into Cntrl and interior Downeast areas, and then slowly weakening late aftn into very erly eve ovr coastal Downeast and near shore waters. Soundings indicate decent 30 to 40 kt deep 0-6km bulk shear about evenly distributed in the layer. This would favor lclzd damaging wind gusts with pulse cells and small bowing segments by max cnvctv cvrg/intensity tm and possible brief supercell characteristics of individual cells possibly resulting in a brief spin-up tornado or two as a worse case scenario. Lower fzg lvls will allow hail to reach the sfc easier than cnvctv scenarios from last month or earlier this month when fzg lvls were in excess of 13kft. Of course, stms will produce brief hvy downpours, but the potential of lclzd flooding will be reduced by stm or stm/segment motion being perpendicular to the mean 850-300mb wind, meaning faster forward corfidi stm motions are preferred. Storms will exit quickly by erly eve as a fast movg strong cold front clears SE of the FA by mid eve. Hi temps tdy will be several deg F cooler due to the presence of cld cvr, shwrs, and tstms with NW areas likely having an opportunity to re-heat mid to late aftn behind the stms as sunshine returns to this area first with the cold front arrival. Otherwise, the ovrngt will be ptly cldy N to mclr Cntrl and Downeast, cooler. drier, and breezy behind the cold front. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Primary item in the short term is the threat for gusty winds Wednesday, and to a lesser extent Thursday. Low pressure will continue to strengthen over the Gulf of St Lawrence Wednesday morning as upper level low advances from central Quebec and becomes vertically stacked. This creates a very large 30kt wind field in the low levels, a radius alone of of about 400 miles from southern Maine to Anticosti Island. In the mid levels, the stacked low will sling a 65-80kt 500 mb jet streak through Maine in the morning and afternoon hours. This large wind field in the low levels combined with the transit of this jet streak will have the potential to increase already gusty winds to the CWA shortly after daybreak. Diurnal mixing will increase sustained winds through the day, with regular gusts of 30-40 mph. The upper end of this range will be focused across the north, but a few will also be possible in the southern CWA. Higher terrain and exposed areas will see greater wind gusts, perhaps upwards of 50 mph. The current forecast wind speeds fall below Wind Advisory thresholds, but one may be deemed necessary due to potential impacts w/ temporary outdoor structures and fully leafed vegetation. The GFS has trended to continue some low level mixing across the far north through the evening and early overnight hours. Thus, kept wind and gusts lingering an additional few hours before tapering towards midnight. Thursday will see breezy conditions continue, but not to the same magnitude as Wed. The pressure gradient is still tightly packed between the large low exiting to the north and wave passing to the south. NAM has been trending north w/ precip of this disturbance, but ECMWF, GFS, and Canadian continue to keep the area shower free. Maintained a dry forecast for Thursday afternoon, but will monitor trends if a few showers become more likely into the Bangor Region and Coastal Hancock. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... With high pressure tracking in from the NW, bulk of precip Friday should be suppressed to the south. Low pressure gathers strength over the Great Lakes and tracks towards the Northeast on Saturday. There is a trend for a further north track in recent guidance, and have continued to carry chance PoPs. To increase confidence in coverage, would like to see less winds out of a dry N/NE flow. Otherwise the system strikes an appearance similar to an overrunning fall/winter event. It may feel the part as well. Sat night lows fall into the mid 40s for much of the north setting up a cool, damp night. Some elevated instability will bring the chance for thunder Downeast and along the coast with the system rapidly exiting Sunday afternoon. High pressure then looks to move in for the beginning of the week. && .AVIATION /17Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... NEAR TERM: Tdy...IFR to VLIFR in patchy to areas of fog, locally dense over Downeast areas with sct shwrs and isold tstms this morn, then MVFR to VFR clgs this aftn with MVFR/IFR clgs/vsbys and lcly strong winds with aftn tstms. Tngt...conditions improving to VFR across the TAF sites by eve behind a strong cold front. Breezy NW winds with lclzd llvl wind shear due to strong winds alf. SHORT TERM: Wednesday...Occasional MVFR ceilings possible across the north and mountains early. Otherwise, VFR. Slight chance of an afternoon shower across northern Aroostook county. Northwest wind gusts of up to around 30 knots, especially at Aroostook terminals. Wednesday night...VFR, gusty NW winds continue, slackening to around 15 kt after midnight. Thursday and Thurs Night...VFR, a passing shower or two possible at Downeast terminals. Gusty west/northwest winds. Friday...VFR. Breezy west winds. Saturday...MVFR/IFR possible with a chance of showers or rain. TS possible at Downeast terminals in the afternoon. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: No marine hdlns thru tngt. Marine fog will cont until the cold front passage erly this eve. Scattered tstms will precede the front with brief lclzd wind gusts up to 35kt possible. Otherwise, NW winds will increase to 10 to 20 kt behind the cold front ovrngt with cold SSTs preventing mixing of stronger winds alf until Wed day, when wind gusts to 25kt are more likely. Kept close to blended wv guidance for fcst wv hts which will increase to 3 to 4 ft ovr the outer waters by late Tue ngt. Wv energy will be split into two spectral groups; a shorter 5 to 7 sec NNE propagating group and a longer 11 sec NNW propagating open Atlc swell group with the short propagating group becmg SE ovrngt as winds become offshore behind the cold front. SHORT TERM: Winds may approach SCA criteria Wednesday as strong NW winds build during the day. NW winds will continue overnight into Thursday. This will cause near shore waves to be around 2 ft, but increase to around 2 to 4 feet in the outer coastal zones. Winds become W and slacken Thursday and Thursday night. Wave heights will again build Saturday ahead of low pressure. && .FIRE WEATHER... After a long, dry summer with drought conditions, strong winds and low relative humidity are expected Tue night thru Wed. This will occur after numerous lightning strikes with tstms this aftn. NW wind gusts Wed aftn may be be sufficient to down a few tree limbs, possibly resulting in a few power line issues. Wed ngt && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && Near Term...VJN Short Term...Cornwell Long Term...Cornwell Aviation...VJN/Cornwell Marine...VJN/Cornwell Fire Weather...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Caribou ME 240 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 MEZ001>006-010-261845- Northwest Aroostook-Northeast Aroostook-Northern Somerset- Northern Piscataquis-Northern Penobscot-Southeast Aroostook- Central Piscataquis- 240 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Central Highlands Maine, Far Eastern Maine, Far Northern Maine and North Woods Maine. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. A cold front will cross the region this afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to accompany the passage of the front with the potential for hail, gusty and even damaging winds, and brief heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ050>052-MEZ011-015>017-029>032-261845- 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- Central Penobscot-Southern Penobscot-Interior Hancock- Central Washington-Coastal Hancock-Coastal Washington- Southern Piscataquis-Northern Washington- 240 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic Coastal Waters, Central Highlands Maine, Coastal DownEast Maine, Far Eastern Maine, Interior DownEast Maine and Penobscot Valley Maine. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. A cold front will cross the region this afternoon and move offshore this evening. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to accompany the passage of the front with the potential for hail, gusty and even damaging winds, and brief heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Strong northwest winds will gust up to 35 mph on Wednesday. Some power outages are possible. .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 921 AM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 MEZ002-005-006-251400- Southeast Aroostook-Northeast Aroostook-Northern Penobscot- 921 AM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL AROOSTOOK AND NORTH CENTRAL PENOBSCOT COUNTIES... At 918 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Oxbow, or 26 miles north of Patten, moving east at 40 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Houlton, Bridgewater, Smyrna, Masardis, Oxbow, Dudley Township, Scopan, Littleton, Monticello, Ludlow, Merrill, Dudley, Webbertown, Grand Lake Seboeis, Saint Croix, Number Nine Mountain and Moro Plantation. This includes the following highways... US Highway 1 between Littleton and Bridgewater. State Highway 11 near Knowles Corner. Heavy downpours may cause ponding of water on roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning 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 4618 6874 4650 6872 4644 6778 4617 6778 TIME...MOT...LOC 1318Z 276DEG 41KT 4637 6855 Norcross
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
151 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
MEZ017-030-251830-
Coastal Washington-Central Washington-
151 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON
COUNTY...
At 149 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles north of
Machias, moving east at 45 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Machias, Lubec, Eastport, Perry, Pembroke, Jonesboro, Cutler,
Centerville, East Machias, Machiasport, Marshfield, Whiting,
Dennysville, Whitneyville, Northfield, Wesley, Marion, Trescott and
Edmunds.
This includes US Highway 1 between Machias and Dennysville.
Heavy downpours may cause ponding of water on roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning 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 4477 6695 4474 6700 4473 6711 4467 6762
4489 6764 4497 6703 4493 6700 4491 6697
4486 6698 4483 6697 4482 6695
TIME...MOT...LOC 1749Z 270DEG 45KT 4483 6742
NorcrossSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
233 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
MEZ015-016-251915-
Interior Hancock-Southern Penobscot-
233 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL HANCOCK AND SOUTHWESTERN
PENOBSCOT COUNTIES...
At 231 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over East Corinth,
or 10 miles east of Dexter, moving east at 45 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bangor, Old Town, Dexter, Newport, Orono, Hermon, Corinth, Veazie,
Kenduskeag, Indian Island, East Corinth, Glenburn, Milford, Levant,
Carmel, Eddington, Corinna, Hudson, Bradley and Greenbush.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 95 between mile markers 157 and 161, and between mile
markers 186 and 207.
State Highway 11 between Newport and Bradford.
Heavy downpours may cause ponding of water on roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning 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 4505 6935 4513 6847 4483 6842 4480 6929
4484 6929
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 270DEG 48KT 4501 6908
NorcrossPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
244 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0234 PM HAIL DEXTER 45.03N 69.29W
08/25/2020 E0.70 INCH PENOBSCOT ME PUBLIC
&&
JSThe Caribou radar (KCBW), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:19 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was toppled by wind gusts estimated at up to 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Two trees were toppled on the University of Maine campus by wind gusts estimated at up to 65 mph.
Numerous power outages were reported in the Orono area due to downed power lines from wind gusts estimated at up to 65 mph. Hail up to 0.70 inch in diameter was also reported in the area.
A tree was toppled by wind gusts estimated at up to 60 mph. The time is estimated.
Trees and power lines were toppled across town by wind gusts estimated at up to 65 mph.
Trees and power lines were toppled across Ellsworth by wind gusts estimated at up to 65 mph. Numerous power outages reported.
Trees were toppled in Seal Harbor by wind gusts estimated at up to 60 mph. The time is estimated.
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: 914229, 914232, 914233, 914227, 914237, 914235, 914241.