High Wind — Northern Oxford, Maine

2021-03-02 · Northern Oxford, Maine

Event narrative

Winds began to sharply increase early in the morning on the 2nd. While strong wind gusts were common over a large portion of the area, damaging wind gusts were most likely in the lee of the taller mountains and ridges. About 30 percent of Oxford County customers lost power during the event.

Wider weather episode

An intense low pressure curled northeast through the Bay of Fundy on the 1st. Early on the 2nd an arctic cold front wrapped into the circulation and blasted through northern New England. Strong cold air advection led to a well mixed boundary layer and strong wind gusts across much of the forecast area. A core of 60 to 70 knot winds near ridge top level with a strong inversion above resulted in a favorable set up for accelerating downslope winds southeast of the higher terrain. The strongest wind gusts lasted from morning until early afternoon. Key Impacts: Strong sustained winds, damaging wind gusts, numerous power outages, minor structural damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 938834. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.