supported the development of thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 3rd. Isolated severe thunderstorms across northeast Aroostook county produced 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.
Diurnal instability...along with an approaching upper level disturbance...supported the development of thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 3rd. Isolated severe thunderstorms across northeast Aroostook county produced 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 3, 5:57 PM EST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 657 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front approaches from the northwest tonight, stalls out across northern Maine Sunday and Sunday night, before pushing south again Monday, then moving offshore Monday night. Canadian high pressure builds in Tuesday through Thursday, as the front remains stalled to the south, with waves of low pressure riding along it. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Update... A cold front will begin to slowly move south across the region overnight, though how rapidly this occurs is uncertain. Aloft, a disturbance will approach Downeast areas later tonight. Isolated to scattered showers/thunderstorms, mostly across northern and central portions of the forecast area, are possible this evening. Locally heavy rain could accompany any thunderstorms early this evening. Showers/thunderstorms then diminish with the loss of diurnal heating. Isolated/scattered showers could then begin to return again later tonight in advance of the approaching upper disturbance, mostly across central/Downeast portions of the forecast area. Otherwise, generally expect a partly cloudy evening, with clouds then increasing overnight. Also expect areas of fog Downeast, patchy fog elsewhere, tonight. Low temperatures will range from the mid to upper 60s across much of the forecast areas, with lower to mid 60s along the Downeast coast. Have updated to adjust for current conditions along with expected overnight temperatures, clouds and shower/thunderstorm chances. Previous Discussion... A northern stream shortwave approaches late tonight, then slowly slides east during the day on Sunday. It appears the bulk of the energy with this system will be focused from the Bangor/Penobscot Region on south - so the best chance for showers and thunderstorms will be there on Sunday. The models differ on to what extent and how quickly precipitable waters diminish on Sunday. The NAM is the most aggressive in pushing a surface cold front into the region on Sunday, and hence lowers precipitable waters the most. Most short range models argue for slower timing with the front, so believe that precipitable waters should remain in the 1.5 to 2 inch rain across most, if not all the region through Sunday. As a result, expect the threat of locally heavy rainfall to continue. The steering currents for convection remain week, so do not expect any storms that do form to move quickly, so the threat should continue for minor flooding of known poor drainage and low lying areas as well as localized flash flooding. This threat will be highlighted in the HWO. The guidance does suggest there could be a region of 1000-2000 J/kg CAPE from Southern Aroostook down into the Central Highlands and Bangor Region. Shear is progged to diminish from 25-35kt in the morning to 20-30kt in the afternoon. So the threat for strong to possibly severe storms is not all that high, making the flash flood potential the main threat. Highs on Sunday should be from around 80 to the mid 80s (a tad cooler near the immediate coast) which is around 5 degrees above normal. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Sunday night...The mid level trof with the associated shortwave boundary should move off towards the waters. Models suggest the stalling of the boundary over the waters, which could bring showers across the region for the night. In addition, patchy fog is expected with the calm winds and high dewpoints. Monday...As the upper level trof axis shifts east, the next cold front is expected to move in. Rain shower chances increase through the morning and afternoon. The concern for Monday will be the instability with the prefrontal boundary and the location of the instability. Upper air model soundings indicate higher CAPE values ~2000 J/kg, steep low level lapse rates, and upper level divergence mainly into the south. With the direction of flow, convection should develop downwind of the Central Highlands. Higher thunderstorm chances have been center over this area. In waiting for more CAMs model runs, decided to leave out any enhanced wording for stronger thunderstorms. Monday night...The cold front should exit over the waters after midnight. Rain showers should move out with the front. In addition, the cooler,drier airmass will move in dropping temps into the mid 50s. Tuesday...High pressure over the Great Lakes should start to settle in, bringing clearer skies, temps in the low 70s, and dewpoints near normal. Breezy WNW winds should make for a pleasant day. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... High pressure is expected to dominate the region through the mid week and into the weekend. The models show increasing uncertainty by Wednesday and Thursday with tropical moisture moving across the waters. Decided to decrease NBM precip chances to slight chance for the south. The next round of rain showers is expected by the weekend, but very little confidence in the timing and track. && .AVIATION /22Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... NEAR TERM: Across northern areas, variable conditions with any evening showers/thunderstorms. Also, variable conditions with any fog late tonight into Sunday morning. Variable conditions with any showers/thunderstorms Sunday. Thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall. Otherwise, VFR. Across Downeast areas, variable conditions with fog tonight into Sunday morning. Isolated/scattered showers possible, mostly late tonight. Variable conditions with any showers/thunderstorms Sunday. Thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall. Otherwise, VFR. Variable winds 5 to 10 knots tonight through Sunday. However, gusty winds possible around any thunderstorms. SHORT TERM: Sun night...VFR/MVFR in rain showers. Possible IFR/LIFR in patchy fog. Light W winds. Mon...MVFR/IFR in rain showers and afternoon TSRA. Light NW winds. Mon night-Wed...Mainly VFR, with MVFR in rain showers. WNW winds 5-10 kts. Thu...Main VFR, possible MVFR in rain showers. Light and variable winds. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Winds/seas below small craft advisory levels tonight through Sunday. Isolated/scattered showers later tonight. Scattered/numerous showers, possibly an isolated thunderstorm, Sunday. Areas of fog tonight through Sunday. SHORT TERM: Winds and seas will remain below SCA conditions through this time period. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && Near Term...Norcross/Maloit Short Term...LaFlash Long Term...LaFlash Aviation...Norcross/LaFlash Marine...Norcross/LaFlash
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Caribou ME 300 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-041900- Northwest Aroostook-Northeast Aroostook-Northern Somerset- Northern Piscataquis-Northern Penobscot-Southeast Aroostook- Central Piscataquis-Central Penobscot-Southern Penobscot- Interior Hancock-Central Washington-Coastal Hancock- Coastal Washington-Southern Piscataquis-Northern Washington- 300 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Central Highlands Maine, Coastal DownEast Maine, Far Eastern Maine, Far Northern Maine, Interior DownEast Maine, North Woods Maine and Penobscot Valley Maine. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall is possible with any stronger storms tonight. This could cause minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas, with a small chance of localized flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Locally heavy rainfall is possible with any stronger storms Sunday through Monday. This could cause minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas, with a small chance of localized flash flooding. In addition, higher instability could produce strong thunderstorms Monday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. ANZ050>052-041900- 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- 300 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and 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... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
753 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
MEZ002-040030-
Northeast Aroostook ME-
753 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL AROOSTOOK COUNTY
THROUGH 830 PM EDT...
At 752 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Nashville Plantation, or near Portage, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch 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...
Portage, Mapleton, Washburn, Ashland, Woodland, Portage Lake,
Nashville Plantation, Chapman, Castle Hill, Perham, Wade, Scopan
Mountain, Garfield, and Nashville.
This includes State Highway 11 between Ashland and Portage.
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 4665 6872 4682 6859 4687 6817 4660 6817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 269DEG 14KT 4674 6855
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ClarkSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
806 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
MEZ002-040045-
Northeast Aroostook ME-
806 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL AROOSTOOK COUNTY
THROUGH 845 PM EDT...
At 806 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Woodland, or near Caribou, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Mapleton, Washburn,
Easton, Woodland, and New Sweden.
This includes US Highway 1 near Caribou.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4690 6779 4665 6779 4676 6817 4694 6817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 285DEG 22KT 4684 6810
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ClarkThe Caribou radar (KCBW), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:29 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An isolated severe thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at up to 60 mph. The winds toppled several trees in the vicinity of Washburn and Woodland. The time is estimated.
An isolated severe thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at up to 60 mph. The winds toppled several trees in Limestone. The time is estimated.
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: 1210450, 1210453.