A strong upper level low pressure system moved toward MINW from the west during the morning of July 14th. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed around midday and moved eastward through the afternoon 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 strong upper level low pressure system moved toward MINW from the west during the morning of July 14th. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed around midday and moved eastward through the afternoon hours. Some of the stronger storms contained intense rainfall rates with localized flash flooding across northern Cumberland County and Coastal Lincoln County.
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 Jul 14, 11:56 AM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 1256 PM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A trough of low pressure crosses New England today accompanied by showers and a few thunderstorms, some containing torrential downpours. A ridge of high pressure gradually builds in from the north on Wednesday. Temperatures and humidity will increase toward the end of the week with showers and storms returning. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... 1255 PM Update... Another round of updates to track convection over the area. Dew points and temperatures are in the 60s under the shield of rain associated with the now- decaying MCS. Convective threat and rainfall rates are waning with this feature as a band of rain lofts north through western Maine. RAP13 analysis shows the 500mb trough centered over souther New Hampshire... to the west of this in the Connecticut River Valley, and as far west as the Adirondacks, lapse rates continue to steepen in north/northwest flow with more storms firing there. Relatively low freezing levels around 10 kft, plus strong moisture content, means the strongest of these cells could still produce hail, strong wind, and torrential rainfall. 1000 AM Update...Provided a fairly hefty update according to observed trends as convection continues to fire around a cyclonic MCS pivoting over the Whites. Heavy rainfall has been observed in cells, especially over the Whites... plus severe hail and wind in a few cells along the periphery in southwest Maine. At 06z...GOES water vapor imagery showed an evolving upper low vicinity of the Adirondacks...in good agreement with short term model guidance. NWS Doppler Radar mosaic showed scattered convection pivoting around this feature at moment. Across the forecast area at moment...skies were scattered to broken with some patchy stratus and fog developing. For today...the upper low will meander east across our area and be centered along mid coast Maine by early evening. Scattered convection will gradually increase through dawn with the approach of this feature. Daytime heating combined with the upper low and cold air aloft will result in widespread convection developing by mid or late morning. Modified soundings support up to 1200 j/kg today... and also suggest we'll see a few pulse storms with gusty winds and possibly small hail. The weak flow aloft will make convection slow-moving...and where we see repeat convective cells today the potential for flooding and localized flash flooding will exist. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Convection should rapidly decrease in coverage this evening with loss of heating and the upper low sliding offshore. Overnight...we'll see mostly cloudy skies with patchy fog developing and a low chance for a lingering shower. On Wednesday...a surface ridge will gradually nose in from the north with drier air. Over far southern and western sections...there may be enough leftover moisture for a brief pop up shower through mid afternoon. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... Fore fro 500 MB across NOAM shows the building of a broad ridge that covers the srn two thirds of the conus with mostly zonal flow across the northern tier this weekend into next week. This will mean hot weather returns , and with the stronger flow aloft, a better chance for shallow waves to move thru and produce convection. Will start off the forecast period with a cooler sfc ridge nosing down from maritimes. this will being manly clear skies and light winds producing a seasonably cool night with lows in the low to mid 50s many inland areas, and upper 50s to around 60 on the coast and in srn NH. Thursday should be fair with highs running a little below normal, generally in the mid 70s to low 80s. Cirrus moves in during the afternoon. 500 Mb closed low then tracks well to the N and W of the CWA, but break down the ridge and start to transport warmer air loft. The WAA will spread clouds and bring the the showers Thu night into Friday, Will see a fair mtn of clouds during the day as well, with highs again mainly in the 70s to around 80. Once this system moves thru will see mainly zonal W flow aloft over the weekend becoming SW next week, and 850 MB temps Sunday and Monday will approach 20C. Humidity will gradually increase as well thru the period and may see dangerous heat levels again by Sunday and Monday. Given the locations on the equatorward side of the 500 MB jet, and the very unstable sfc conds, any weak waves in the flow aloft could produce a round of convection. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Short Term /Through Wednesday/...Lcl IFR in stratus and fog through 12z. Otherwise areas of MVFR with lcl IFR in SHRA and TSRA today through early evening. Areas of MVFR cigs tonight with sct -SHRA and lcl IFR developing in mainly in valley stratus and fog. Becoming VFR throughout between 12z and 15z Wednesday. Long Term...VFR Wed night and Thu, although some vly fog possible Wed night. Could see MVFR to IFR conds Thu night into at least Fri morning, thanks to onshore flow with WAA aloft. BEst chc will be on the coast. Fri night should improvement to VFR thru Sat. && .MARINE... Short Term /Through Wednesday/...Winds and seas will increase in northeast flow into tonight...but should remain below SCA threshold. Long Term...Winds/seas stay below SCA levels Thu-Sat. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...Casey/Schwibs SHORT TERM...Schwibs LONG TERM...Cempa
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gray ME 1009 AM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-033-NHZ001>015-151415- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford- Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior York- Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec-Interior Waldo- Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-Coastal Waldo- Interior Cumberland Highlands-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- 1009 AM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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...Today and Tonight. Thunderstorms today will be slow moving and produce moderate to heavy rainfall. Areas of flash flooding are possible, especially over higher terrain. Some storms may contain strong, gusty winds and hail with a few cells exceeding severe limits. Frequent lightning is also being observed in storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hot and humid weather returns this weekend, with dangerous heat levels possible again by Sunday and Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ150>154-151415- Coastal Waters from Stonington, ME to Port Clyde, ME out 25 NM- Penobscot Bay- 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- 1009 AM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Thunderstorms could produce strong winds and frequent lightning today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. 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
105 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM FLASH FLOOD 1 ENE RANDOLPH 44.38N 71.26W
07/14/2020 COOS NH PUBLIC
REPORTED AT WOOD SPRING ROAD RANDOLPH NH.
WASHOUTS ALSO REPORTED AT PUGGY HUDDIE LANE,
PASTURE PATH ROAD,.
&&
HATSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Gray ME 115 PM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 MEZ026-141745- Lincoln- 115 PM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTY... At 115 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Damariscotta, moving north at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Damariscotta, Bristol, Bremen, Jefferson, Edgecomb, Alna, Nobleboro, Newcastle and South Bristol. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4398 6943 4396 6959 4410 6966 4415 6946 TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 159DEG 8KT 4400 6953
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Gray ME 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 MEZ019-020-024-025-141800- Androscoggin-Central Interior Cumberland-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc- 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 14 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL ANDROSCOGGIN... SOUTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND AND WEST CENTRAL SAGADAHOC COUNTIES... At 118 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Falmouth, or near Portland, moving north at 15 mph. Half inch hail is possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Portland, Brunswick, Topsham, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gray, Yarmouth, Harpswell, Durham, Chebeague Island, New Gloucester, Pownal and North Yarmouth. This includes the following highways... Interstate 295 between mile markers 6 and 31. Interstate 95 between mile markers 51 and 54. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4364 7006 4367 7031 4399 7029 4394 6992 TIME...MOT...LOC 1718Z 190DEG 12KT 4373 7017
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
126 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0848 AM HAIL MOUNT WASHINGTON 44.27N 71.30W
07/14/2020 M0.25 INCH COOS NH PUBLIC
2 DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKES REPORTED AS WELL.
TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
HATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
200 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE GRAY 43.90N 70.31W
07/14/2020 M1.23 INCH CUMBERLAND ME NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
HATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
204 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0855 AM HAIL 3 SE SANFORD 43.41N 70.74W
07/14/2020 M1.50 INCH YORK ME PUBLIC
&&The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 9 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:16 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Slow moving thunderstorms dropped 3 to 5 inches of rain in about 3 hours causing 8 of moving water across the North Road in Yarmouth, temporarily closing the road.
Slow moving thunderstorms locally dropped 3 to 6 inches of rain in about 3 hours causing road flooding and washouts in Bristol. Route 130 and route 129 were affected.
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, July 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: 914052, 914053.