Flash Flood — Kennebec, Maine

2023-08-08 · near Vienna, Kennebec, Maine

Event narrative

Heavy rain on the 8th caused washouts on Davis and Mason Roads in Vienna near Eaton Mountain, resulting in the closure of Davis Road and 2 spots on Mason Road.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure moved northeast from Massachusetts into Maine and New Hampshire on the morning of the 8th. The rainfall intensity increased during peak heating, with the heaviest rainfall from Nashua New Hampshire to Waterville Maine. Rainfall reports were highest across Cumberland and Androscoggin Counties in southern interior Maine ranging between 3 and 5 inches. After a break in the heavy rainfall, another round of scattered heavy rain showers developed in the late evening causing significant flooding in rural northern Franklin County along Rt 17. Following a very wet July, the water table and streams were all elevated prior to the rains on August 8-9th. The storage for additional rain was limited, which lead to widespread impacts. Flooding was most notable across these locations with numerous flash floods as streams and soil conditions were already swollen. Several streams came out of banks, as well as the Presumpscot River which reached minor flood stage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.5556, -70.0134)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1131271. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.