Flood — Aroostook, Maine

2014-04-15 to 2014-04-18 · near Hamlin, Aroostook, Maine

Event narrative

Mild temperatures of around 60 to the mid 60s caused rapid snow melt and runoff during the 14th which led to rising river and stream levels. Heavy rain then occurred during the 15th in advance of a slow moving cold front along with continued mild temperatures which contributed to further runoff. Rainfall totals during the 15th generally ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 inches.

Flooding began to develop during the afternoon of the 15th due to rising river and stream levels along with ice jams. Additional flooding was due to runoff from fields and hills which overwhelmed culverts and produced standing water in poor drainage areas. Road closures due to both types of flooding began to develop during the afternoon of the 15th. The number of road closures then steadily increased across the entire county through the remainder of the 15th into the 16th...with numerous road closures persisting into the 18th.

Flooding occurred along portions of both the Aroostook River and Saint John River. Numerous roads were closed around Fort Fairfield...on the Aroostook River...starting on the afternoon of the 15th due to elevated river levels and several ice jams. The final ice jams released during the afternoon of the 16th allowing water levels to recede. Several forecast points along the Aroostook River reached flood stage. An ice jam caused the river at Washburn to briefly spike above flood stage for around 2 hours during the overnight hours of the 15th into the 16th...cresting around 2.5 feet above flood stage. At Masardis...the river rose above flood stage during the early morning hours of the 16th...crested around a foot above flood stage that afternoon...then fell below flood stage later that evening. Elevated river levels and ice jams contributed to flooding along portions of the Saint John River. An ice jam affected the Saint Francis area during the morning of the 16th resulting in minor flooding. A more significant ice jam...estimated to be 3 to 4 miles long...then affected the Saint Francis area during the 17th into the early morning of the 18th before releasing. This ice jam closed portions of Route 161 between Saint Francis and Allagash due to water and large chunks of ice covering the road. This ice jam also caused the voluntary evacuation of 5 homes along the river for precautionary reasons. When this ice jam released the ice contributed to elevated river levels further downstream...from Hamlin to Van Buren...where portions of Route 1A were briefly closed. Many small streams also overflowed across the county contributing to flooding. Other towns affected by flooding and road closures included Bridgewater...Caribou...Castle Hill...Easton...Hodgdon...Houlton...Mapleton...Presque Isle...Westfield and Wytopitlock.

Non river flooding also occurred across the region due to the runoff of heavy rain and snow melt from fields and hills. This runoff overwhelmed culverts which led to flooding and road closures...with flooding also occurring in poor drainage areas. The one fatality during this event was due to runoff from fields which had flooded a dirt road in the Caswell area. After moving his vehicle...the individual attempted to walk back across the flooded road and stepped into the fast moving water of a culvert which swept him away resulting in his drowning. This fatality occurred during the evening of the 15th. The monetary damage represents a total from 4 towns. Most of this damage was related to flooding from fields.

Wider weather episode

Mild temperatures and heavy rains contributed to rapid snow melt and ice movement during mid April. Rising river levels and ice jams led to flooding across portions of northern and eastern Maine. High temperatures on the 14th generally ranged from around 60 to the mid 60s north...to the mid 60s Downeast. These temperatures produced rapid snow melt which led to rising river and stream levels. The rising rivers caused ice to move which led to ice jams. Heavy rains then occurred across the region from the 15th into the 16th in advance of a cold front...with totals of 1.00 to 2.00 inches. Runoff from this rain...in addition to the melting snow...further contributed to rising river levels and ice jams.

River and stream flooding began to develop during the afternoon and evening of the 15th related to the rapid runoff due to snow melt and heavy rains along with ice jams. Runoff from fields and hills overwhelmed culverts and poor drainage areas which contributed to flooding and road closures along with the only fatality of the event.

Significant flooding across Piscataquis and Washington counties lasted into the afternoon of the 17th. Across Aroostook and Penobscot counties...significant flooding lasted into the early morning hours of the 18th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (47.0463, -67.7747)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 512188. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.