High Wind — Northwest Aroostook, Maine

2025-04-20 · Northwest Aroostook, Maine

Event narrative

Wind gusts around 56 mph measured at the Frenchville airport Sunday afternoon. Resulted in multiple downed trees, powerlines, and contributed to some small brush fires.

Wider weather episode

Frontal system moved over New England on Sunday, April 20th, before becoming stationary across central Maine. Good pressure gradient developed over Maine as a result of this system strengthening, along with dry air aloft, causing gusty northwest winds throughout the state on Sunday, leading to thousands of power outages, predominantly in Aroostook and Penobscot counties. These winds, alongside low dew points and relative humidity, also lead to fire weather concerns across the north and the coastal regions. As powerlines knocked over, sparks caused various grass fires throughout northern and central Maine. Winds in the north and east began to gust in the morning hours, gradually increasing to the south by afternoon time of the 20th. Wind speeds throughout the region gradually diminished during the evening once daytime heating ceased.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1255394. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.