Photo taken from Houlton by Robin Bickford
Ludlow Maine in Aroostook County is the location of Maine’s first confirmed tornado of the season. A weak EF0 with max winds estimated around 70 mph touched down for a short period around 1:50 PM Monday. Its maximum path width was about 180 yards and traveled about the length of two football fields. The survey team from NWS Caribou reports minor tree damage was evident on both sides of Ludlow Rd, with trees either split or uprooted in a convergent pattern. The damage was supported by an eyewitness who was present at the time of the event, as well as photo evidence of the funnel take by a person south of Houlton.
Photos From NWS Caribou
Earlier in the day several spotters reported a funnel cloud in another cell in Aroostook County. Here’s one photo from around 11:20 AM.
Photo by Michael Kistner
While rare, Maine is no stranger to tornadoes. The state averages about two confirmed annually but the number has been slightly higher in recent years. Here are a few stats about tornadoes in Northern New England.
- Peak tornado activity occurs between June and August
- Most tornadoes occur between 3PM and 9PM
- Most tornadoes have a forward speed of about 30 mph.
- During a 40 year period, 74 tornadoes occurred in Maine
- Vacationland averages about 2 tornadoes per year
- Average tornado path length is about 1.08 miles
- Strongest tornado observed in Maine was an EF2
Here’s a list of tornadoes reported in Maine and New Hampshire for a 15 year period between 1995 and 2010.
EF2/F2 Jul 08 1996 Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine Jul 03 1997 Greenfield, New Hampshire May 31 1998 Antrim, New Hampshire Jul 06 1999 Pittsfield/Barnstead/Strafford, New Hampshire Aug 09 2000 Cornville, Maine May 21 2006 Hampton Falls, New Hampshire Jul 24 2008 Deerfield to Freedom, New Hampshire (50 mile path length) EF1/F1 Jul 23 1995 New Hampton, New Hampshire Jun 21 1997 Rome, Maine Jul 03 1997 Swanzey, New Hampshire Oct 01 1998 South Paris, Maine Aug 13 1999 Sweden, Maine Aug 13 1999 Plainfield/Enfield, New Hampshire Jul 18 2000 Newry/Hanover, Maine Jun 17 2001 Newry/Hanover, Maine Jul 24 2001 Penobscot County (16 miles northwest of Patten) Jul 24 2001 Oakfield, Maine May 31 2002 West Paris, Maine Jul 04 2002 Aroostook County (8 miles west of Littleton) Nov 24 2005 Phippsburg, Maine Sep 29 2006 North Berwick, Maine May 24 2009 Eagle Lake, Maine May 31 2009 Westfield, Maine May 31 2009 Easton, Maine Aug 21 2009 Norway to Hartford, Maine (up to 700 yards wide) Jun 5 2010 South Paris, Oxford, Hebron, Maine Jul 21 2010 Newfield to Limerick, Maine Jul 21 2010 Buxton to Gorham, Maine Jul 21 2010 Shapleigh to Alfred, Maine EF0/F0 Jul 28 1997 Ft. Kent, Maine Aug 27 1997 Charleston, Maine Jul 23 2002 Aroostook County (7 miles northwest of Knowles Corner) Aug 08 2004 Sebago Lake, Maine Aug 13 2004 Sanbornton/Meredith, New Hampshire Aug 01 2005 North Twin Lake, Maine Nov 24 2005 Brunswick, Maine Sep 29 2006 Effingham, New Hampshire Jul 15 2007 Long Lake in Aroostook County, Maine May 31 2009 Oxbow, Maine Jun 26 2009 Stockholm, Maine Jul 18 2009 East Bethel, Maine Jun 2 2010 Shin Pond, Maine Jun 5 2010 Gorham, New Hampshire
If you find yourself in a tornado warning, here are a few facts and safety tips.
- Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries in tornadoes
- The safest place in your home during a tornado is your basement
- Stay away from windows.
- Get out of vehicles or mobile homes, they offer little protection. Seek shelter in a substantial building.
- Do not seek shelter under a bridge overpass. Bridge overpasses offer little, if any protection from wind driven debris.