Power Outage in Bath, ME

Parts of the Midcoast experienced two periods of strong to damaging winds. One during the morning hours of the 23rd generally had wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range. A second during the afternoon and evening featured wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph. Numerous trees and wires were reported down in the area, and power outages approached 30 percent of customers across the county.

Gusty southeast winds through the day on October 14th along with heavy rain caused numerous snapped branches and a few downed standing dead trees. Power outages in Southwest Maine peaked at 69,500 outages during the afternoon hours when the peak wind gusts were occurring.

On the August 2nd drought monitor, Sagadahoc County was 100% in severe drought. By the end of the month, 59% of the county was in severe drought and 41% in moderate drought. The improved designations were the result of scattered heavy rainfall, however most of the county observed below average amounts under 3 inches.||The state of Maine activated its Drought Task Force in July 2022. Several towns instituted voluntary water restrictions. Hydro operators balanced needs of lake levels, hydroelectric power generation needs, and the discharges to maintain stream flow needs downstream. Most of the reported water quantity issues were from southern and coastal areas. Farmers without irrigation experienced stressed vegetation from a lack of rain and above normal temperatures in July. First-cut hay crop was near normal, but subsequent hay growth was slowed. Most streamflow stations in central and southern rivers with 30+ years of record were between the 10th-25th percentiles compared to normal.

Damaging outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees onto powerlines northwest of Bowdoinham.

Damaging outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed trees and snapped a power pole along Andrea Street in Topsham.

The strong winds came in two waves across coastal western Maine. The first period featured strong southeast winds gusting at times between 50 and 60 mph. A brief lull occurred as steady rain moved north of the area. However winds shifted to a more southerly direction and increased again as showers moved back into the region after midnight. Additional wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph occurred during this time. Despite trees having dropped their leaves there were numerous reports of trees and limbs down along with a significant number of power outages.

Tropical Storm Isaias brought limited impacts to Sagadahoc County due wind gusts up to 45 mph. Scattered reports of snapped and uprooted trees along with broken branches caused downed power lines through the county. Sagadahoc County reported 2,600 customers without power, with a restoration time for most outages within 24 hours. No coastal or inland flooding was reported.

Strong wind gusts in the early morning hours of the 17th led to downed trees and power lines across Sagadahoc County. Local mesonet weather stations measured wind gusts ranging between 45 and 55 mph. Across Maine nearly 200,000 power outages were reported.

A severe thunderstorm downed trees on power lines on Berry Mill Road in West Bath.

Numerous trees were knocked over by the wind leading to widespread and prolonged power outages and road closures. Central Maine Power reported more than 8000 customers with power outages countywide.

High winds downed many trees and caused numerous power outages throughout the area. Central Maine Power reported more the 8700 power outages in the Sagadahoc County.

A potent area of low pressure tracked to the west of the region over the Great Lakes region on November 30th. Out ahead of the associated surface cold front was a strong southerly low level jet of 85kts. The trajectory of this jet tracked directly over the Gulf of Maine Monday evening. These strong winds were able to mix down to the surface along coastal Maine bringing with them wind gusts up to 60 mph. Cold air damming across interior regions allowed for lighter winds speeds with most of the damaging winds gusts concentrated within 25 miles of the coastline. This storm brought significant power outages to the region with utility companies reported around 130,000 customers without power.

On the evening of October 15th a sharp upper trough dropped through the Upper Midwest, with surface low pressure moving into the Great Lakes. As the primary low pressure began to occlude on the 16th secondary low pressure development occurred on the Mid Atlantic coast. When the upper trough became negatively tilted the secondary low pressure rapidly deepened and tracked through New England overnight into the morning of the 17th. Low pressure ultimately bottomed out at 972 mb. Prior to the secondary low pressure occluding a strong low level jet lifted northeast across the coast of New England with strong wind gusts overnight on the 16th into the 17th. Uprooted and snapped trees along with downed limbs caused significant power outages along coastal Maine. Total power outages for the event in the state peaked around 200,000 customers without power.

Low pressure developed off the mid Atlantic coast on the morning of the 25th and deepened as it moved north, reaching southern New England by evening. Ahead of the low, east winds rapidly increased across southern Maine with numerous gusts in excess of 60 mph being reported. Central Maine Power reported 133,000 customers without power at the peak of the storm.

Intense low pressure moving through the Gulf of Maine coincided with the highest astronomical tides of the month to produce coastal flooding in areas along the Maine coast. Strong southeast winds produced a storm surge of 1.44 ft and near shore waves of 7 to 10 ft, bringing the Portland tide gage to 12.54 ft. Ocean water flooded Route 1 in Lincolnville and Frankfort. Water reached cars parked near Commercial Street in Portland. In Kennebunk powerful waves crashed in and around homes. At Popham Beach, trees were sucked into the ocean and severe beach erosion occurred.

Severe thunderstorm winds knocked trees down onto power lines and a couple of trailers.

Strong, gusty south winds downed tree limbs onto power lines causing scattered power outages. About 5700 customers were affected by power outages, mostly in the Portland, Brunswick, and Rockland areas. Winds gusted to 35 mph (measured) at Portland and 33 mph (measured) at Brunswick.

A low pressure area that developed over the Maryland coast and moved northeast through the Gulf of Maine caused strong and gusty, northwest winds over portions of coastal and interior southwest Maine. In the Rockland area, winds and seas caused several boats to pull loose from their moorings. One 37 foot lobster boat was destroyed and several other boats were damaged. In Harrison, winds downed a tree onto a barn. Winds also downed trees and limbs onto power lines causing scattered power outages. Approximately 900 customers were affected, mainly in Knox and Lincoln Counties. Peak wind gusts were measured at 71 mph at Matinicus Rock, 54 mph at the Portland Buoy, 46 mph at Rockland, and 44 mph in Portland.

Strong, gusty, northwest winds downed limbs onto power lines causing scattered power outages which affected approximately 6000 customers. In Rockland Harbor, a 72-foot scallop dragger broke loose from it's mooring and caused over $10,000 in damage to a marina. In Cape Elizabeth, winds uprooted a large willow tree which damaged a house and car. The peak wind gust measured at Portland was 43 mph.

An ocean storm east of Cape Cod produced strong and gusty, northeast winds along the coast. The wind downed trees and limbs onto power lines causing scattered power outages in York, Eliot, and South Berwick. Fallen trees damaged a house and two vehicles in Rockland. Winds gusted to 41 mph (measured) in Rockland and Portland.

Strong southeast winds developed across coastal sections of western and central Maine as low pressure intensified very rapidly over southern New England. The strong and gusty winds downed trees and limbs onto power lines causing isolated power outages in an area near South Bristol. Approximately 900 customers were affected. The peak wind gusts observed at stations along the coast included 45 mph (measured) at Rockland, 43 mph (measured) at Portland, and 40 mph (measured) at Wiscasset.