Instability storms developed on the evening of August 14th across the higher terrain of the Western Maine Mountains, especially across Somerset County. Storms had limited shear, but a few were still strong enough to produce damaging and isolated large hail.
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.
Instability storms developed on the evening of August 14th across the higher terrain of the Western Maine Mountains, especially across Somerset County. Storms had limited shear, but a few were still strong enough to produce damaging and isolated large hail. Overall coverage remained low and only impacted a few towns.
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 Aug 14, 3:06 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 406 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Isolated showers and storms dissipate this evening. Another round of showers and storms is expected Thursday before some improvement Friday. By this weekend, periods of more unsettled weather are possible through the weekend into early next week. Hurricane Ernesto passes offshore late this weekend and Monday, bringing an increasing swell and dangerous rip currents by Saturday through midweek next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... Isolated showers and storms have developed this afternoon. At time of publishing, these are mostly over central and southern Maine. The cu field has been slow to show much deeper growth through the afternoon, perhaps stunted by earlier smokey cast deterring some solar insolation through the first half of the day. There should remain instability off the surface however as upper low stalls over Nova Scotia/New Brunswick. Embedded shortwave will be forcing that taps into this instability into the evening and early overnight to keep showers and some thunder possible. With the low shear and dry low levels, will continue to have some of these storms produce gusty winds through the early evening. This shouldn't be a widespread impact unless a cluster of storms forms a uniform outflow, but the deeper/stronger storms will be capable of these winds. A few pockets of showers may continue up to midnight, but a general clearing trend is forecast. This will again bring in fog chances for the CT River Valley late. HREF vis and ceiling guidance has also hinted at a low deck of clouds advancing along the coast and interior from the east overnight. Probabilities aren't the highest, but patchy fog could form over damp areas as the night cools. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... A similar setup possible for Thursday where a chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms exists. Shear parameters are again marginal compared to available instability. Theoretically gusty winds and small hail would again be possible in stronger cells. Will continue to assess how this trends, and how this afternoon plays out to increase confidence. HRRR Smoke/RAP models do portray additional high level smoke passing through the region, and this may further impede afternoon convection. Surface temps may be a couple degrees cooler as more morning cloud cover is possible and the upper low retrogrades west. While highs topped out around 80 today, highs may only make it into the mid to upper 70s for ME and the northern half of NH Thursday. A similar evening trend is anticipated as daytime heating wanes and clearing begins. At this time, overnight showers look less likely compared to Wed night. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Overview... A series of troughs affect New England this weekend and into early next week. Generally cool and showery conditions are expected, with some brighter periods in between. Hurricane Ernesto passes offshore late this weekend and early next week, bringing building surf and increasing rip currents. Details... A weak shortwave ridge passes through New England, bringing a relatively drier and brighter day on Friday. Scattered showers are still likely during the afternoon hours across the higher terrain, but don't look to be as widespread as on Thursday. By Saturday, the ridge passes and a trough begins to deepen through the Great Lakes, with low pressure developing across the Great Lakes as well. The low is very slow to make any eastward progress over the following few days as the ridge stalls and builds across Atlantic Canada through the weekend. With this pattern, showers and scattered thunderstorms likely begin to move into western areas late in the day Saturday, and make slow progress eastward overnight Saturday. The progress mostly stalls by Sunday, with western areas seeing a greater chance for showers than eastern areas. There remains some question as to just how far east it will progress, but at this point the coast stands the best chance to see the driest conditions. By Monday, a shortwave dives in and deepens the trough, while also causing it to become more amplified and help the pattern begin moving along again. With this, the greatest chance for rain and showers in the forecast arrive late Monday as the low progresses east. The trough continues to transit through on Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday, keeping the chance for scattered showers around. While all this is going on, Hurricane Ernesto is expected to pass near Bermuda on Saturday, and making it's closest pass to Nova Scotia on Monday. Ernesto helps to amplify the ridge across Atlantic Canada, aiding in the slow down of the trough progression, while also bringing it's own effects. Building surf and increasing rip currents remain the biggest concerns from Ernesto, with a southeasterly swell building by Saturday. The swell builds through Monday, and then will be slow to subside through Wednesday. Rip currents become increasingly more dangerous by Sunday, and continue through at least Tuesday. High astronomical tides are also occuring early next week, so some splashover is also possible. The track is favorable overall for a long duration swell event, with the storm tracking mostly northward for two days around Bermuda. && .AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Short Term...VFR this afternoon, with some SHRA/TS developing this afternoon and early evening. MVFR ceilings may develop late along coastal and interior terminals in ME. This may be accompanied by patchy fog to reduce vis as well. This lifts Thursday, with another round of SHRA/TS in the afternoon. Long Term...Mainly VFR conditions are expected on Friday, with brief showers possible across interior terminals. VFR conditions prevail more often than not Saturday through early next week, but periods of MVFR ceilings and showers are likely at times through early next week, especially across interior terminals during the afternoon and evening. Nighttime valley fog is also likely at LEB and HIE each night. && .MARINE... Short Term...Below SCA conditions expected. Stacked upper low over New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will slowly retrograde west over the next few days. This should give little wind at the surface outside of daytime sea breeze that turn onshore in the afternoon. Some marine fog is possible tonight. Long Term...Weak pressure patterns prevail as broad high pressure builds across Atlantic Canada into this weekend. Hurricane Ernesto passes east of the Gulf of Maine late this weekend and early next week, bringing an increasing southeasterly swell starting on Saturday. The swell builds to greater than 5ft by Sunday, and continues through midweek next week. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...Cornwell SHORT TERM...Cornwell LONG TERM...Clair
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Gray ME 338 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024 MEZ023>028-NHZ014-151945- Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-Coastal Waldo- Coastal Rockingham- 338 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Maine, southwest Maine and southern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A building swell and increasingly dangerous rip currents begin on Saturday, and increases through at least Monday as Hurricane Ernesto passes offshore of the East Coast. High surf along the coast may pose a breaking wave hazard. High astronomical tides early next week may combine with the large surf and cause splashover around the times of high tide Sunday night and Monday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MEZ007>009-012>014-018>022-033-NHZ001>013-015-151945- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford- Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior York- Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec-Interior 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-Western And Central Hillsborough- 338 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024 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...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ150>154-151945- 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- 338 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
531 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
MEZ009-014-142200-
Southern Somerset ME-Central Somerset ME-
531 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTY THROUGH
600 PM EDT...
At 531 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles north of Bingham, or 25 miles southwest of Greenville, moving
south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Bingham, Brighton Plantation, Caratunk Plantation, Pleasant Ridge
Plantation, Concord, Moscow, Lexington, Mayfield, Bald Mountain, and
Highland Plantation.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4524 6995 4522 6975 4499 6974 4500 7005
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 005DEG 20KT 4518 6987
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BaronSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
550 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
MEZ027-028-142230-
Coastal Waldo ME-Knox ME-
550 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL KNOX AND
SOUTHEASTERN WALDO COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM EDT...
At 549 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lincolnville, moving south at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Rockland, Camden, Lincolnville, Islesboro, Rockport, Thomaston, Hope,
North Haven, Northport, Owls Head, Vinalhaven, and Searsmont.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4410 6880 4408 6916 4432 6916 4435 6892
4424 6887 4420 6889 4421 6885
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 348DEG 13KT 4429 6903
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
605 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
MEZ009-014-142230-
Southern Somerset ME-Central Somerset ME-
605 PM EDT Wed Aug 14 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTY
THROUGH 630 PM EDT...
At 605 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bingham, or 19 miles northwest of Skowhegan, moving south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Madison, Bingham, Anson, Cornville, Athens, Embden, Brighton
Plantation, Solon, Concord, Pleasant Ridge Plantation, and Moscow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4507 6993 4508 6972 4485 6962 4484 6994
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 355DEG 21KT 4502 6983
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BaronThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:43 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree blocking Horseback Rd. in Anson.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree blocking River Rd. Anson.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed trees and powerlines on West Mills Rd. in Anson.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree that blocked Anson Rd. in Starks.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree onto a powerline blocking Maine State Route 134 in Starks.
A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of quarters in Leeds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, August 2024
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: 1214019, 1214020, 1214016, 1214018, 1214017, 1214015.