Flash Flood — Penobscot, Maine

2024-07-11 · near South Lincoln, Penobscot, Maine

Event narrative

Rainfall totals of 4.00 to 5.00 inches...with local totals in excess of 5.50 inches... produced flash flooding. Many roads were closed due to the flash flooding for varying lengths of time. Some roads were damaged to varying extents...in some cases leaving them impassable. A rail bed near Chester was washed out...undercutting the train tracks. Saturated soil from the heavy rain caused a portion of a small hillside to slough...sending mud and grass across Route 2. The road was briefly closed until heavy equipment was able to remove the debris. Damage to other infrastructure...including culverts and bridges...also occurred.

Wider weather episode

The extra-tropical remnants of Hurricane Beryl brought abundant moisture to the region while crossing northern Maine during the 11th. Tropical moisture expanded across the region through the night of the 10th into the morning of the 11th with a warm front lifting across the region. Precipitable water values reached near record daily levels. Heavy rain developed during the evening of the 10th and persisted into the morning of the 11th. Flash flooding developed during the early morning hours of the 11th...persisting into the morning. The greatest rain totals with this event occurred in a corridor extending from Piscataquis county...across central and northern Penobscot county...to southeast Aroostook county. Rainfall totals of 3.00 to 5.00 inches were common in this corridor...with local totals in excess of 5.00 inches. Highest totals included 5.2 inches in Abbot ( southern Piscataquis county )...5.72 inches around Lincoln ( central Penobscot county ) and 4.19 inches near Macwahoc ( southeast Aroostook county ). Orographic enhancement and embedded thunderstorms helped contribute to the higher rain totals. Numerous roads were flooded and damaged to varying extents...in some cases leaving them impassable. Damage to infrastructure including bridges...culverts and rail lines also occurred. Saturated soil contributed to fallen trees which in some cases brought down power lines. Satuated soil also led to a small debris flow in Lincoln which led to a temporary closure of Route 2.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.3142, -68.5914)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1203594. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.