User:Runningonbrains/List of Maine tornadoes
This is a list of tornadoes reported in the history of the US state of Maine. While Maine is not known for tornado events, more than 100 tornadoes have affected the state in modern history, resulting in at least 48 deaths, 780 injuries, and more than $500 million in damage.[1]
As with most of the Northeastern United States, the number of tornadoes peaks in the summer months; specifically, July and August. They occur most commonly in Hartford County, although since 1950 Litchfield County has recorded the most tornadoes. Since reliable records have been kept, Maine has recorded an average of 1.3 tornadoes per year, ranked 42nd in the United States.[2]
Possible tornadoes also occurred in May 1779, 1839 (two tornadoes), 1841, but the location and exact date of these are unknown.[3][4] This list is likely incomplete, as official records date back only to 1950 for tornadoes in the United States.[1]
Pre–1950
- August 1, 1815: A tornado about 300 feet (91 m) wide destroyed trees, crops, and fences near St. Albans.[5]
- July, 1848: A tornado cut a path 15 miles (24 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide through Ripley, Dexter, and Garland.[4]
- October 16, 1855: A tornado damaged homes in Gorham, moving one house from its foundation, destroying a barm, and damaging some roofs.[6]
- June 15, 1859: A tornado caused significant damage in Embden. It began as a waterspout several hundred feet high over a local pond, then moved into town, destroying several barns and a house. Debris was carried as much as 2 miles (3.2 km) from its origin. Five people were injured.[7]
- June 3, 1865: A possible tornado affected Scarborough, Gorham, and Westbrook.[8]
- May 22, 1921: A severe windstorm, likely including one or more tornadoes, hit several towns including Waterville, Portland, and Searsport. In Portland, a shed was blown into the water on Long Island, drowning a man. The worst damage occurred in Searsport from a probable tornado, where three houses and a factory tower were destroyed, and two people were slightly injured by flying debris.[10]
1950–1974
- June 61953: An F1 briefly touched down in Dexter, just north of Lake Wassookeag. One person was injured.[1]
- July 71953: An F0 travelled about 1 mile (1.6 km) along the shoreline in South Freeport, causing no damage but injuring one person.[1]
- July 71954: An tornado touched down northeast of St. Stephen, New Brunswick around 2:30 PM, moving southwest. It crossed the St. Croix River into downtown Calais, causing F2 damage and injuring one person. The total path length was 8 miles (13 km) and damage was around $25,000 (1953 USD).[1]
- August 111954: Another F2 tornado touched down later in the year along US Route 1, just north of Connor. One house was thrown into another, killing one person and injuring another. Two barns were also destroyed.[9][11]
- June 11956: An F1 tornado caused a path of damage approximately 40 feet (12 m) wide and 1 mile (1.6 km) long through Lebanon.[12]
- September 141956: An F1 tornado caused a long 19-mile (31 km) path of damage from Augusta to an area about 5 miles (8.0 km) north-northeast of Washington.[13]
- September 161957: An F2 touched down in a wooded area southeast of Sherman, causing little property damage.[14]
- July 21958: Three tornadoes caused minor damage in three separate parts of the state. The first and longest-tracked tornado, accompanied by large hail almost 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, touched down around 3pm EDT west of Jonesboro. It moved south for 9 miles (14 km), causing F1 damage before lifting in Jonesport. The second tornado touched down in Wilton Intervale about 15 minutes later, causing little damage. The third tornado, an F1, tracked 3 miles (4.8 km) from Orono to near Old Town.[1][15][16][17][18]
- July 111958: An F1 tornado caused minor damage in Buxton.[19]
- July 191958: A tornado touched down briefly in Clinton.[20]
- August 81958: A tornado touched down briefly in Alna, causing no damage.[21]
- August 151958: An F2 tornado tracked 17 miles (27 km) due east from St. Froid Lake to the south end of Madawaska Lake southwest of Stockholm.[22]
- August 151959: A tornado injured one person just west of the Canadian border in Aroostook County.[23]
- August 161959: An F2 caused a bit of damage in in Cardville, followed by a weak F1 tornado near Sidney.[24][25]
- August 171959: Two more tornadoes touched down this day, one in Newport and one in Amherst which injured one person.[26][27]
- August 281959: A weak tornado was spotted near Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field in Dover-Foxcroft. No damage was reported.[28]
- August 291960: An F1 tornado touched down in Caribou, travelling east-northeast for 10 miles before lifting in Limestone.[29]
- May 291961: An F0 tornado travelled east-northeast for 5 miles (8 km) near Meddybemps Lake.[30]
- June 131961: An F1 tornado touched down in Stow, travelling 5 miles (8 km) southeast to Lovell.[31]
- June 291961: An F1 tornado touched down near Mud Lake in Sinclair.[32]
- July 181961: An F1 touched down northeast of Presque Isle.[33]
- September 41961: An F2 caused significant damage around Skowhegan along a 1-mile (1.6 km) path.[34]
- September 151961: A tornado touched down on Great Wass Island, moving northeast. Moving 19 miles (31 km), at some points over water as a waterspout, it caused F2 damage to a few structures, dissipating in East Machias. One person was injured.[35]
- July 91962: An F1 tracked 11 miles (18 km) from Sebago across Sebago Lake to Raymond, causing minor damage.[36]
- August 201962: An F2 caused little damage to structures in Wellington.[37]
- May 141963: An F2 caused little damage to structures outside of Berwick.[38]
- May 191963: A tornado was spotted north of Caribou.[39]
- JUN 10, 1965 4:50 pm 0 dead 3 injured
Two barns were destroyed near Deblois, Washington County.
1975–1999
- AUG 13, 1976 7:00 pm 0 dead 2 injured
At Wells, York County a tornado touched down in the harbor and moved on shore, destroying homes.
- JUN 18, 1994 11:15 AM 0 dead 2 injured
One or more weak tornadoes skipped from St. Francis to Portage Lake, Aroostook County.
2000–present
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "NCDC Storm Events". National Climatic Data Center. 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ "Maine Tornadoes". Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- ^ Ludlam, pg. 201
- ^ a b c d Ludlam, pg. 203
- ^ a b c d Ludlam, pg. 202
- ^ "Violent Tornado in Gorham, Maine" (PDF). From the Portland Advertiser. New York Times. 1855-10-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Embden, ME Tornado Damages Small Towns, June 1859". GenDisasters. Somerset Telegraph. 1859-06-15. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ludlam, pg. 204
- ^ a b Tornado Project. "Worst" Tornadoes Retrieved on July 2, 2007.
- ^ "Various Towns, ME Tornadoes Sweep Maine, May 1921". GenDisasters. New York Times. 1921-05-23. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Event Record Details 11 Aug 1954, 1727 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 01 Jun 1956, 1500 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 14 Sep 1956, 1510 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 16 Sep 1957, 1330 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ Data from the Storm Prediction Center archives, which are accessible through SeverePlot, free software created and maintained by John Hart, lead forecaster for the SPC.
- ^ "Event Record Details 02 Jul 1958, 1500 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 02 Jul 1958, 1517 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 02 Jul 1958, 1600 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Event Record Details 11 Jul 1958, 1330 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Event Record Details 19 Jul 1958, 1700 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Event Record Details 08 Aug 1958, 1430 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Event Record Details 15 Aug 1958, 1020 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 15 Aug 1959, 1430 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 16 Aug 1959, 1200 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 16 Aug 1959, 1245 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 17 Aug 1959, 1600 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 16 17 Aug 1959, 1900 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 28 Aug 1959, 1500 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 29 Aug 1960, 1600 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 29 May 1961, 1400 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ "Event Record Details 13 Jun 1961, 1700 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Event Record Details 29 Jun 1961, 2227 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Event Record Details 18 Jul 1961, 1615 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Event Record Details 04 Sep 1961, 1610 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Event Record Details 15 Sep 1961, 0930 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Event Record Details 09 Jul 1962, 1055 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Event Record Details 20 Aug 1962, 1350 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Event Record Details 14 May 1963, 1615 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Event Record Details 19 May 1963, 1445 CST". NCDC Storm Events Database. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
Book references
- Grazulis, Thomas P (July). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link) - Ludlum, David McWilliams (1970). Early American Tornadoes 1586–1870. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society. ISBN 0933876327.