Coastal Flood — Knox, Maine

2024-01-10 · Knox, Maine

Event narrative

An intense and rapidly deepening area of low pressure over the Great Lakes region (975 mb) combined with modestly high astronomical tides to produce the third highest storm tide ever in Portland (records 1912-present). Further up the Maine coast the storm surge was slightly higher and aligned better with the high tide cycle leading to the all time highest water level reading at Bar Harbor with a water level of 15.49 feet MLLW. A new gauge in Belfast also recorded a water level of 16.38 feet MLLW. In terms of erosion the damage became worst along the Mid-Coast, significant splash-over occurred along the coast, especially in vulnerable southeast facing beaches and necks. Large battering surf caused major damage to piers and docks in the county with debris from damaged docks up and down the county coastline. In Belfast, the city dock and parking lot was severely damaged with over a foot of inundation. Route 1 in Lincolnville was closed and covered with 1-2 feet of inundation, in addition to water in businesses. Flooding was also reported further up the Penobscot Bay in Prospect with State Route 174 being closed due to flooding. Route 1A in Frankfort was also closed due to inundation flooding of marshland along the Penobscot River.

Wider weather episode

A powerful storm tracked northeast through the Mid Mississippi River Valley on the 9th, rapidly deepening as it approached the southern Great Lakes. Precipitation formed along and ahead of the advancing warm front, which arrived in part of northern New England during the evening of the 9th. High pressure anchored to the north of Maine dammed low level cold air up against the mountains and allowed precipitation to start as snow for most locations in western Maine, except for those east of the coastal front. The coastal front was able to quickly mix westward as heavier precipitation moved into the area, and snow changed to rain into the foothills through midnight and the early morning hours. Rain closer to the coast and snow across the higher terrain was heavy at times through the overnight hours. Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches occurred in the higher terrain, with locally higher amounts in the high peaks. Rainfall was a widespread 2 to 4 inches where precipitation remained mostly rain. A strong low level jet accompanying the deep low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes arrived during the early morning hours on the 10th, with strong to damaging wind gusts along the coast. These warm winds along with rainfall helped to melt much of the fresh snow pack that had fallen on the 7th. The strongest east southeast winds also arrived just ahead of high tide, as they were approaching their monthly spring tides. Moderate to major coastal flooding and large, battering waves occurred all along the western Maine shoreline leading to widespread damage. By the morning of the 10th, snow, rain, and wind had all moved east of the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1159534. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.