An unseasonably hot and humid airmass was firmly in place across New England with highs well into the 80s across the interior mountains. A pre-frontal trough ahead of an approaching cold front triggered a long line of severe thunderstorms that had a history of causing wind damage across Quebec province.
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.
An unseasonably hot and humid airmass was firmly in place across New England with highs well into the 80s across the interior mountains. A pre-frontal trough ahead of an approaching cold front triggered a long line of severe thunderstorms that had a history of causing wind damage across Quebec province. This line of storms reached the Maine border during the evening on May 21st.
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 May 21, 3:32 PM EST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 432 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 .SYNOPSIS... The warm and increasingly humid air mass in place away from the coast may aid in fostering a few severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening with the main threats being large hail, damaging winds, and torrential downpours. A cold front will start to drop south into the area Sunday bringing more widespread showers and thunderstorms with potential for strong to severe storms after a very hot day. High pressure settles in for the start the work week with cooler and drier weather expected. A frontal system looks to approach New England late next week for unsettled conditions. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Temperatures overall today have ended up a few degrees cooler than earlier thinking, but dew points are several degrees higher in the warm areas. Due to this, have opted to continue with the heat advisory with heat indices rising above 95 degrees, and lows near 70 tonight. The other main concern is the severe threat across northern areas. The SPC has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the northern portion of our CWA through 11PM this evening, with wind, hail, and a few isolated tornadoes all possible. We've been watching multiple lines of thunderstorms moving through southern Canada with observed winds over 80mph so far today. These storms are most likely to stay to our north, but the outflow from them will likely help kick off storms in our area. Conditions for storms overall are best to the north of the area on the edge of an EML, but storms are still likely to initiate over the next couple hours across northern areas, with a few of them likely to quickly become strong to severe. There is also the threat of some heavy rainfall and localized flooding across northern areas that see the storms. A general east to west motion is expected of the cells as they near the extent of their southward progression, so some training of storms is possible and will need to be watched for into the evening hours. The severe threat wanes later into the evening, with isolated storms and some showers diminishing through the overnight hours. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Tomorrow is expected to be warmer than today by a few degrees, though after today's outcome I have opted to lower forecast highs by a few degrees. With the dew points, heat indices are still likely to be near 95 degrees again tomorrow across southern New Hampshire. Onshore flow will again keep the coastline and most of Maine cooler. The severe threat continues tomorrow, with the more favorable EML and overall environment that's across Canada today expected to be situated over New England tomorrow. All hazards are on the table again tomorrow, with most interior areas away from the coastline standing a chance to see some of the strong to severe storms. A cold front will cause the development of a squall line by late in the day that enter northern and western areas, but some discrete cell development is possible as soon as the early afternoon across most of the area. This threat will need to monitored closely again tomorrow. The cold front pushes offshore during the overnight hours tomorrow night, with the threat of severe storms diminishing by late in the evening. Clearing arrives later tomorrow night, along with cooler and drier air. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Dry and cooler weather is expected Monday into Wednesday as high pressure settles over the region. The question then becomes timing and level of PoPs for Wed night - Fri as upper level low amplifies to our west but so does ridging to our east. This will likely delay rainfall a forecast period or two but it does seem that the pattern breaks down enough to get rain in here around Friday. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Short Term...Marine fog brings LIFR to IFR conditions again this evening to coastal terminals, and lingers into tomorrow morning. Elsewhere, VFR to occasional MVFR conditions are expected overnight, with a chance of thunderstorms at HIE this evening. RKD likely holds onto the fog or low stratus most of the day tomorrow, while VFR conditions are expected elsewhere. Showers and thunderstorms are likely tomorrow afternoon and evening, starting first across western and northern terminals, then moving eastward. A passing front brings improving conditions tomorrow night, with all stations expected to return to VFR conditions by Monday morning. Long Term...VFR conditions are expected Monday through Wednesday as high pressure settles overhead. It's possible that some lower clouds (IFR) develop on the coast later Wednesday into Thursday as a moistening southeasterly wind develops. && .MARINE... Short Term...Areas of marine fog continue through tomorrow night. An approaching cold front brings a few southerly gusts to near 25kts tomorrow, and a chance of thunderstorms tomorrow night. Conditions improve behind the front by late tomorrow night. Long Term...Winds and seas will generally be below SCA thresholds Monday through Thursday. && .CLIMATE... Temperatures will warm into the 90s today and Sunday across most of New Hampshire and parts of western Maine. Below are the forecast high temperatures, and their records at our climate sites. Site Forecast/Record Sunday Augusta, ME 83/94 (1992) Portland, ME 75/90 (1992) Concord, NH 93/98 (1911) In addition, overnight lows tonight may also tie or set record high minimums in southern NH. For Concord this is 66 set in 1921. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Sunday for NHZ008-011>013-015. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...Clair SHORT TERM...Clair LONG TERM...Ekster
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gray ME 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 NHZ008-011>013-015-222215- Merrimack-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-Interior Rockingham- Western And Central Hillsborough- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for New Hampshire, central New Hampshire and southern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...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...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. Despite the hot weather, water temperatures remain cold. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible Sunday. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely hazard. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ007>009-012>014-NHZ001>006-222215- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford- Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Northern Coos-Southern Coos- Northern Grafton-Northern Carroll-Southern Grafton-Southern Carroll- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 256 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Maine, west central Maine, western Maine and northern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...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. Despite the warm weather, water temperatures remain cold. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms are expected to be more widespread Sunday. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely hazard. Despite the warm weather, water temperatures remain cold. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ033-NHZ007-009-222215- Interior Cumberland Highlands-Sullivan-Belknap- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maine and central New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening. There is potential for storms to become strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. Despite the warm weather, water temperatures remain cold. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms are expected to be more widespread Sunday. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely hazard. Despite the hot weather, water temperatures remain cold. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ018>021-NHZ010-222215- Interior York-Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec- Strafford- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Maine, south central Maine, southwest Maine and central New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Despite the hot weather, water temperatures remain cold. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible Sunday. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely hazard. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ022>028-NHZ014-222215- Interior Waldo-Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln- Knox-Coastal Waldo-Coastal Rockingham- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Maine, southwest Maine and southern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Despite the warm weather, water temperatures remain cold. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible Sunday. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely hazard. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ150>154-222215- 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- 608 PM EDT Sat May 21 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 172 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Convective outflow damaging winds caused by a severe thunderstorms downed multiple trees and wires on on State Route 27 in Coburn Gore Maine.
Convective outflow damaging winds caused by a severe thunderstorms downed multiple trees and wires in Eustis Maine.
Convective outflow damaging winds caused by a severe thunderstorms downed multiple trees and wires on in downtown area of Stratton Maine.
Convective outflow damaging winds caused by a severe thunderstorms downed multiple trees in downtown Forks and on Lake Moxie Maine.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, May 2022
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: 1033532, 1033534, 1033537, 1033538.