A hot and humid airmass with heat index values well into the 90s was firmly in place when an upper level trough and associated cold front begin to move into western Maine on the afternoon of June 30th. Storms began to develop and quickly became severe due to very unstable conditions being fueled by the near record heat and humidity.
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 hot and humid airmass with heat index values well into the 90s was firmly in place when an upper level trough and associated cold front begin to move into western Maine on the afternoon of June 30th. Storms began to develop and quickly became severe due to very unstable conditions being fueled by the near record heat and humidity. The storms traveled from west to east straight to the coast through the afternoon hours, leaving in their wake downed trees and power outages. A particular damaging storm impacted the Belgrade Lakes region with 100s of down trees and property damage.
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 Jun 30, 11:15 AM EST, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
1215 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
A final hot and humid day underway today with heat indices
approaching 95 to 100F for areas south of the mountains. A cold
front will slowly drop south out of Canada later today bringing
strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. The
front stalls near southern New England Thursday with unsettled
conditions and a cooling trend expected into the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /TODAY/...
1210 PM Update... Severe Thunderstorm Watch 327 has been issued
for all public forecast zones along with Casco and Penobscot
Bays.
1030 AM Update... With 12Z CAMS coming in, and with areas of
showers starting to fire on regional radar, have fine- tuned the
forecast... particularly PoP/Wx. A cluster of showers over
central Maine may show some upward growth as the morning
progresses, but the primary area to look for will be a broad
zone of moisture convergence extending from the Mohawk Valley of
New York east-northeastward through central New England.
Clusters of showers are already developing over upstate New
York... and are expected to initiate off the Greens and Whites
in the coming hours. General thinking remains the same with
isolated to scattered discrete convection forming earlier in the
day with more organized lines and bows becoming the dominant
storm mode by late afternoon.
650 AM Update...Have increased PoPs across northwest Maine as
thundershowers are tracking west to east across southern Canada
into northern Maine. Have also made minor tweaks to near term
sky and temperature forecast based on latest observations and
mesoscale guidance. Rest of the forecast remains on track with
CIN eroding by mid morning and the threat for thunderstorms
increasing early this afternoon.
ORIGINAL DISCUSSION...
Heat advisory conditions continue across the southern half of
the forecast area with highs into the 90s and dewpoints near
oppressive levels of 70F. There continues to be a threat for
strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening as a
front sinks south from Canada.
Temperatures at 925 mb will again be plus or minus a degree of +26C
across the southern two thirds of the forecast area, although more
clouds will keep highs a couple degrees lower than observed
yesterday. Heat indices will climb into the mid 90s to near 100F
early this afternoon before increasing clouds and thunderstorms
knock temperatures down late this afternoon.
The thinking around the severe thunderstorm potential has not
changed much from the previous forecast package as the 00Z CAM suite
offers similar solutions to yesterday's 12Z run. A positive tilt mid
level trough over southeast Canada will slightly shift south
and east today sending a belt of of southwest winds around 50
kts at H5 over New England this afternoon. These winds will lead
to effective shear to increase to 35 to 45 kts with this shear
overlapping SBCAPE in the 1000 to 2000 J/kg range. The best
overlap of shear with the high end instability will be over
southern New Hampshire and this is where the 00Z HREF is showing
some loose clustering of updraft helicity tracks. SPC now has
southern New Hampshire in an Enhanced Risk (rating 3 out of 5)
with a Slight Risk (rating 2 out of 5) further north
encompassing much of the remaining CWA with damaging winds the
primary threat.
The 00Z CAM suite continues to offer a variety of solutions in
placement, timing, and convective modes owing to the forcing
from the front and pre-frontal trough not aligning well with
instability. Cells may form as early as mid morning across the
north with multi cell clusters tracking west to east across
central New Hampshire into western Maine early this afternoon.
Multi cell clusters may grow upscale into linear segments as
convection spreads south and east through the CWA. The primary
threat will be damaging winds with steep low level lapse rates
around 9C/km from the surface to 3 km AGL and convection taking
on linear forms. The hail threat is lower owing to meager mid
level lapse rates around 5-6C/km, although the signal for
rotating updrafts suggests that severe hail is still a
possibility. Across southern New Hampshire where the best
instability and shear overlap, low level wind profiles are
unidirectional with straight line hodographs and relatively high
LCLs minimizing the tornado threat. Further north, from the
Lakes Region in New Hampshire through the coastal plain of Maine
low level helicity increases with slightly lower LCLs
introducing a non-zero tornado threat. Overall, the confidence
is there that we will see some severe storms today with damaging
winds the primary threat along with localized hydrologic
concerns from training cells given PWATs near 2 inches.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
The front slowly drops through the area tonight before stalling
over southern New England tomorrow morning. Thunderstorm
activity will transition to scattered showers as instability
decreases with another warm and muggy night across the southern
half of the area. Some cooler and drier air enters the north
allowing for lows to drop to near 60F while southern areas will
only drop into the low 70s.
The front will remained stalled near southern New Hampshire on
Thursday with waves of low pressure forming along the boundary.
This will bring mostly cloudy skies with chances for showers
increasing through the afternoon. Cloud cover will keep
temperatures into the low 80s south to low 70s north. Drier air
enters northern areas with dewpoints dropping into the 50s while
south of mountains closer to the boundary dewpoints will still
be muggy into the upper 60s.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
By Thursday evening the frontal boundary ushering in a change of air
masses will be draped near the Mass/New Hampshire border. A
wave of low pressure will ride along this boundary Thursday
night, bringing an increasing coverage and frequency of showers.
This will start first across southern New Hampshire Thursday
evening, and gradually spread north and eastward along the Maine
coast through Friday morning. This first wave of moisture and
rain will mostly stay across southern and coastal areas, but the
low pressure is expected to strengthen and deepen by a few
millibars by the time it emerges into the Gulf of Maine on
Friday morning, and will likely be best described as being a
small Nor'easter, a relatively uncommon feature for early July.
At this same time, an upper level trough will be deepening across
the Great Lakes. Exactly how the Nor'easter and the upper level
trough interact on Friday is still a bit uncertain, but it looks
increasingly likely that showers and some thunderstorms would
develop along an axis toward the northwest from the Maine coast
into western Maine and northern New Hampshire. The models are in
fairly good agreement on the precipitation spreading
northwestward, but exactly where and how much rainfall would
result from it remains less certain. Showers and storms that do
develop in these areas would likely be slow moving, so the
possibility of some heavy rainfall will need to be monitored.
The precipitation will likely last the majority of the daytime on
Friday, with southwestern New Hampshire standing the best chance for
some dry hours Friday afternoon. The Nor'easter will move away
Friday afternoon, but the upper level trough will continue to deepen
into the Mid Atlantic through Saturday. The trough will gradually
move eastward across New England through the weekend, and will take
until later on Monday to finally move into the Canadian Maritimes.
This trough is set to bring cool and showery conditions for the
Holiday weekend. With the clouds, showers, and a cooler air mass,
high temperature will likely be running about 10-15 degrees
below normal. Additionally, the showers will be more scattered
and periodic in nature, so it doesn't look to be a washout, but
will likely dampen some outdoor plans at times.
Some scattered showers are still possible on Monday as the trough
slowly moves away from the area. A weak ridge will try to build into
the area and bring with it more seasonable temperatures, but the
models are showing that this would still come with frequent
southeastward moving short waves into midweek next week with an
increased chance for showers and thunderstorms when one passes
through the area.
&&
.AVIATION /16Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Short Term...VFR is expected through mid-day with scattered
thunderstorms this afternoon bringing the potential for
MVFR/IFR vsby restrictions with some storms capable of becoming
severe with strong winds and hail. Storms taper to showers
tonight with the potential for BR and fog to bring IFR
conditions through morning. Overcast skies and SHRA Thursday may
bring periods of MVFR.
Long Term...
Showers will increase in coverage Thursday night across southern
terminals, and then expand northward across all areas Friday
morning, bringing with them lowered ceilings and IFR conditions at
through Friday afternoon. with the worst conditions across coastal
terminals. Scattered showers will bringing brief times of MVFR to
occasionally IFR conditions at times through the weekend and into
early next week.
&&
.MARINE...
Short Term...Winds and seas will remain below SCA thresholds
through Thursday. A cold front dropping south from Canada will
bring scattered storms that may track over the waters this
afternoon bringing localized strong winds. Storms taper to
showers overnight with some patchy fog developing overnight
lasting through Thursday. Front stalls near the waters through
Thursday bringing additional chances for showers.
Long Term...
A frontal boundary will gradually push southward through the
Gulf of Maine Thursday night and Friday. Low pressure will ride
along this boundary, bringing near SCA conditions late Thursday
night through early Friday afternoon. Northeasterly breezes
will continue through the weekend as a broad trough slowly
crosses the region.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Here are some high temperature records for Today (6/30):
KCON 97 in 1964
KPWM 96 in 1971
KAUG 97 in 1971
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for MEZ018>021-
023>025-033.
NH...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NHZ006-008>015.
MARINE...None.
&&
NEAR TERM...Casey/Schroeter
SHORT TERM...Schroeter
LONG TERM...ClairHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gray ME 1220 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 MEZ018>021-023>025-033-NHZ006-008>015-011630- Interior York-Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec- Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc- Interior Cumberland Highlands-Southern Carroll-Merrimack-Belknap- Strafford-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-Interior Rockingham- Coastal Rockingham-Western And Central Hillsborough- 1220 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Maine, south central Maine, southwest Maine, western Maine, New Hampshire, central New Hampshire, northern New Hampshire and southern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This afternoon 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into the evening. The primary threat from these is damaging wind gusts however large hail and a tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ007>009-012>014-022-026>028-NHZ001>005-007-011630- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford- Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior Waldo-Lincoln-Knox- Coastal Waldo-Northern Coos-Southern Coos-Northern Grafton- Northern Carroll-Southern Grafton-Sullivan- 1220 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Maine, west central Maine, western Maine, central New Hampshire and northern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into the evening. The primary threat from these is damaging wind gusts however large hail and a tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ150-152-154-011630- 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- Coastal Waters from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Merrimack River, MA out 25 NM- 1220 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon through the evening. Wind gusts my exceed gale force with locally rough seas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ151-153-011630- Penobscot Bay-Casco Bay- 1220 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon through the evening. Wind gusts my exceed gale force with locally rough seas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service GRAY ME 1058 AM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-033-NHZ001>015-301700- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset- Southern Oxford-Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior York- Central Interior Cumberland-Interior Cumberland Highlands- 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- 1058 AM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021 ...Strong to Severe Thunderstorms Expected This Afternoon and Evening Across Portions of New Hampshire and Western Maine... A warm and humid air mass entrenched over New England sets the stage for scattered to numerous showers and storms today. Thunderstorms are expected to develop by this afternoon over the Adirondacks and mountains of northern New England before tracking east southeastward through this evening. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat with these storms, although large hail and a tornado cannot be ruled out. The greatest threat for severe storms exists through the Lakes regions of both Maine and New Hampshire, extending southward to the coast and Massachusetts border. Thunderstorms will weaken and move south and out of the area late this evening.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
203 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
MEZ014-021-022-301830-
Interior Waldo-Southern Somerset-Kennebec-
203 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN KENNEBEC...
NORTHWESTERN WALDO AND SOUTHEASTERN SOMERSET COUNTIES...
At 203 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles north of
Clinton, or 7 miles west of Pittsfield, moving east at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fairfield, Pittsfield, Skowhegan, Clinton, Unity, Canaan, Burnham,
Detroit, Palmyra and Troy.
This includes Interstate 95 between mile markers 141 and 157.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 4467 6964 4478 6964 4487 6930 4482 6928
4480 6929 4473 6927 4472 6925 4473 6920
4464 6918
TIME...MOT...LOC 1803Z 267DEG 33KT 4474 6953
WatsonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
239 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
NHZ002-003-301915-
Northern Grafton-Southern Coos-
239 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN COOS AND
NORTHEASTERN GRAFTON COUNTIES...
At 238 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Barnet, or 13
miles southwest of St. Johnsbury, moving east at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Littleton, Bethlehem, Lincoln, Franconia, Carroll, Lisbon, Bath,
Dalton, Easton, Monroe, Landaff, Lyman, Sugar Hill and Whitefield.
This includes Interstate 93 between mile markers 106 and 131.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 4430 7203 4432 7203 4434 7198 4434 7193
4435 7191 4434 7188 4434 7185 4436 7181
4437 7181 4437 7154 4408 7156 4418 7206
4420 7206 4424 7205 4428 7207
TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 276DEG 43KT 4428 7212Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
246 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
MEZ019-020-024-301915-
Androscoggin-Central Interior Cumberland-Coastal Cumberland-
246 PM EDT Wed Jun 30 2021
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL
ANDROSCOGGIN AND CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...
At 245 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms and outflow were
located along a line extending from near Gray to near Raymond.
Movement was east at 30 mph.
Outflow winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Brunswick, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gray, Yarmouth, Raymond,
Standish, Durham, Frye Island, Windham, New Gloucester, Pownal and
North Yarmouth.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 295 between mile markers 13 and 30.
Interstate 95 between mile markers 56 and 68.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 4375 7020 4382 7057 4397 7031 4394 7001
4393 6999
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 273DEG 25KT 4392 7027 4383 7044
WatsonThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:49 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed multiple trees two miles north of Monroe, ME.
Severe thunderstorm wind gust downed a large tree that brought down wires in Frankfort, ME.
A severe thunderstorm passed through the Belgrade Lakes region on Wednesday afternoon, producing a wet microburst. Estimated wind speeds varied from 60 mph up to 90 mph. There was a concentrated damage swath about 2 miles long beginning along the eastern shore of long pond just north of Belgrade Village. The damage ended on Abena Shore Rd. to the southeast of Belgrade Village. Approximately 300 trees were uprooted and snapped with the heaviest pockets of damage immediately on the eastern shorelines of Long Pond and Hersom Point on great pond. In addition to the tree damage, approximately 6 buildings were partially damaged due to trees falling on them. An additional building had shingle damage directly caused by the wind. Two vehicles were damaged when trees fell on them. One fatality occurred when a tree fell on a pedestrian in a parked vehicle. The tree damage was extensive with many old growth white pines, oaks and willows being uprooted and or snapped. Power outages were extensive in the area with many snapped poles and downed lines.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed multiple trees in Saco, ME.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed multiple trees in Lebanon, ME.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Kennebec | 2021-06-30 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, June 2021
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: 969332, 969340, 969321, 969342, 969346.