A surface cold front dropping down from Canada interacted with a very hot and unstable airmass in place across the state. Significant shear aloft allowed for some organized thunderstorms.
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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 surface cold front dropping down from Canada interacted with a very hot and unstable airmass in place across the state. Significant shear aloft allowed for some organized thunderstorms. The strongest severe storms brought a swatch of wind damage from York to Cumberland Counties.
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 20, 1:29 PM EST, 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 229 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and storms move through with a passing cold front this afternoon and evening. Some storms may be strong to severe and bring a threat for hail and damaging winds. Once that front clears the area tonight, fair and seasonable weather returns with high pressure building in for much of the week. Temperatures moderate through the week, with increasingly humid conditions by late week. Hot and humid conditions are increasingly likely for late week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Showers and thunderstorms will continue to march towards the coast through early evening. So far today, main feature has been a line of rain with thunderstorms slowly pushing southeast. Behind this initial line of convection, scattered showers are expected to wind the evening down. No big changes to afternoon thunderstorm forecast and expected threats. Gusty to damaging winds remain the biggest impact from organized convection, with large hail also possible. Given supportive 0-3km shear of 30-40kt, a brief tornado can't be ruled out in linear segments. Would expect isolated cells to develop ahead of the aforementioned line as convective temps are hit and forcing impinges on the region of max CAPE. Points to the south and east of the line have gone through cycles of cloud types this morning, so exact instability likely varies. Regardless, CAMs have been consistent with values between 1000-2000 j/kg of CAPE and ample shear in this region, with 16z sounding from GYX depicting around 1800 j/kg of SBCAPE. With line pushing off the coast this evening, overall coverage and intensity of showers/storms decreases. NW flow will bring lower temps tonight in the mid 50s to lower 60s. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Mostly sunny skies take over Monday, with a breezy NW wind. Gusts up to 30 mph can't be ruled out through the afternoon as a drier airmass moves through. While temperatures rise just below Sunday's values, the breeze may make it feel a couple degrees cooler. Points NW of the mountains may remain broken to overcast with a low cloud deck in the morning. Temperatures will see a slower climb here, with highs topping out in the mid 60s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Overview... High pressure dominates the weather pattern much of the work week, with a moderating trend through the week as the high moves east. A cold front then approaches late in the week, with high pressure returning behind the front. Details... The moderating trend begins on Tuesday, but a seasonably cool and dry airmass will still be in place as highs mostly top out in the 70s. Mainly sunny skies are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday sees highs climbing back into the mid 70s to mid 80s as high pressure moves east of New England and sets up a more southerly wind direction. Humidity begins to increase through the day, but overall it looks like a seasonable and comfortable day. By Thursday the heat and humidity begin to build in. Low to mid 90s make a return to at least southern areas, with dew points climbing into at least the mid to upper 60s through the day. At the same time, a cold front will approach from the west. Overall the front looks to be trending slightly slower from yesterday's thinking, resulting in a lower chance for shower and storm activity across northern areas late in the day on Thursday. The slower front also results in a hotter day for Friday. Without the frontal passage, Thursday night looks steamy with lows mainly in the 70s. On Friday, highs likely reach the low to mid 90s ahead of the front, with heat indices pushing into the triple digits in this scenario. The timing of the front will be the determining factor on Friday's temperatures, with an earlier passage eliminating this potential. However, the current trend looks to be favoring a later passage as the front is more likely to continue to trend slower in the presence of a strong ridge across the Northeast. This would also bring the potential for more widespread and stronger thunderstorms Friday afternoon. The current thinking is that the front does pass through by next weekend, but this is not set either and there is the potential for the heat to continue into next weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Short Term...SHRA and TS move through terminals this afternoon and evening. TS will be more likely at coastal and southern NH terminals through the evening. TS may contain erratic gusts and hail through 00z. Overnight, BR/FG develops near the Midcoast, with most other locations trending VFR. HIE and LEB may see MVFR overnight. Most of the region remains VFR Monday with breezy NW winds. Gusts may reach 20-30 kt during the daytime hours. Long Term...VFR prevails during the daytime from Tuesday through Wednesday, with nighttime valley fog possible at HIE and LEB each night. Marine fog would then be possible at RKD on Thursday and Friday. VFR likely prevails most of the time elsewhere, but showers and storms will be possible at all terminals on Friday. VFR likely then returns after any storms next weekend. && .MARINE... Short Term...Below SCA conditions through Monday, but winds may approach 25kt during the afternoon. An area of low pressure and cold front will approach the waters this evening, crossing by midnight. Showers and storms accompany the front, some with hail and strong winds. Winds shift NW behind this front, becoming breezy Monday. Long Term...High pressure crosses the waters through the week, bringing fair conditions through early Thursday. Increasing southwesterly flow ahead of a cold front may bring SCA conditions and areas of fog late Thursday and Friday. The front likely then crosses late Friday or Saturday. && .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 108 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 MEZ012-018>021-023>025-033-NHZ006>015-211715- Southern Oxford-Interior York-Central Interior Cumberland- Androscoggin-Kennebec-Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc- Interior Cumberland Highlands-Southern Carroll-Sullivan-Merrimack- Belknap-Strafford-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-Interior Rockingham- Coastal Rockingham-Western And Central Hillsborough- 108 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 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. Thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid afternoon along and ahead of a slow moving cold front. Some storms may be severe, with large hail and damaging winds possible. In addition to the severe weather threat, storms will be capable of torrential rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Dangerous heat is possible for Thursday, and especially Friday. Heat indices into at least the mid to upper 90s are increasingly likely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ013-014-022-026>028-NHZ002>005-211715- Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior Waldo-Lincoln-Knox- Coastal Waldo-Southern Coos-Northern Grafton-Northern Carroll- Southern Grafton- 108 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Maine, western Maine and northern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid afternoon along and ahead of a slow moving cold front. Some storms may be strong to severe, with small hail and gusty winds possible. In addition to the severe weather threat, storms will be capable of torrential rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hot and humid conditions are possible on Friday. There is the potential for heat indices into the mid 90s. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MEZ007>009-NHZ001-211715- Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Northern Coos- 108 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Maine, western Maine and northern New Hampshire. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ150>154-211715- 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- 108 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025 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...Monday through Saturday. 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
205 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
MEZ012-018-019-033-NHZ004-006-201845-
Southern Oxford ME-Interior Cumberland Highlands ME-Interior York ME-
Central Interior Cumberland ME-Southern Carroll NH-
Northern Carroll NH-
205 PM EDT Sun Jul 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL YORK...
SOUTHWESTERN OXFORD...SOUTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND AND EAST CENTRAL
CARROLL COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
At 204 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hiram, or 10 miles southeast of Conway, moving southeast at 30 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...
Sebago, Baldwin, Eaton, Freedom, Brownfield, Frye Island, Cornish,
Hiram, Porter, Limington, Standish, Windham, Gray, Buxton, Gorham,
Raymond, Denmark, Naples, Parsonsfield, and Limerick.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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.
If on or near Sebago Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4383 7109 4399 7100 4390 7035 4364 7051
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 292DEG 25KT 4388 7096
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
PalmerThe Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:37 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed numerous trees to include a large pine tree on Hanscomb School Rd., and a cluster of trees along a field line in Limington.
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed a tree onto a house on Ridge Rd. and Leisure Lane on Frye Island.
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed multiple large trees down throughout the area, including partial ripping the roof off a home and damaging another as a tree fell on the home on South Windham.
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds downed multiple trees onto houses along Route 302 in Windham, just in from the Westbrook line.
Large hail associated with a severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of ping pong balls in Falmouth.
Severe thunderstorm outflow winds blew a flat roof off a building on Fundy Road. Additional trees down along Foreside Road and the Golf Course in Falmouth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maine in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Maine, July 2025
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: 1288738, 1288740, 1288504, 1288741, 1288737, 1288743.