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Sunday, July 2, 2017

Three Western Maine Tornadoes Confirmed By National Weather Service Gray

UPDATE 4:19pm: According to the National Weather Service out of Gray, Maine have confirmed a fifth tornado.

National Weather Service statement:
Tornado Confirmed Near Otisfield in Oxford County Maine...

Location...Otisfield in Oxford County Maine
Date...07/01/2017
Estimated Time...6:35 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...70 MPH
Maximum Path Width...75 Yards
Path Length...2.5 Miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...44.09N / 70.59W
Ending lat/Lon...44.10N / 70.55W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Gray ME has confirmed a tornado near Otisfield in Oxford County Maine on 07/01/2017. This is the 5th confirmed tornado of the day in Maine.

After further eyewitness reports and pictures that were  received by the National Weather Service in Gray ME, we have  confirmed a weak tornado occurred near Otisfield in Oxford County 
Maine on 07/01/2017. Initial damage was found on Bolsters Mill  Road with large branches downed on power lines. As the storms  moved on an easterly trajectory additional damage was noted on  Bell Hill Road where a large pine tree fell on a house. Also large
trees were downed on power lines. Continuing east, additional  broken and/or blown down trees were found near the intersection of Peaco Hill Road and Rayville Road as well as downed power lines.  Eyewitnesses reported the "ear-popping" sensation oftentimes  reported with tornadoes. Video also shows substantial rotation at  cloud base to the east of where the tornado occurred. This tornado was spawned from the same storm that produced the second Bridgton tornado around 614 PM.

UPDATE 4:05pm Monday, July 3rd, 2017. According to the National Weather Service out of Gray, Maine. They have confirmed a fourth tornado. Statement from the National Weather Service.

...Tornado Confirmed in North Denmark in Oxford County Maine...
Location...Denmark in Oxford County Maine
Date...July 1, 2017
Estimated Time...6:09 PM
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...90 to 95 MPH
Maximum Path Width...200 YARDS
Path Length...0.4 MILES
Beginning Lat/Lon...44.03 / 70.80W
Ending lat/Lon...44.03 / 70.79W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Gray ME has confirmed a tornado in the northern part of Denmark in Oxford County Maine on July 1, 2017.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage along the southwestern shore of Moose Pond in Denmark. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted in a path crossing Mountain Road and extending into Moose Pond. Damaged trees fell onto at least one vehicle, multiple cabins, and at least one boat and nearby dock causing substantial structural damage.

Damage in this area was found to be consistent with a brief tornado touchdown with the tornado continuing eastward into Moose Pond. Observers further north along the shore of Moose Pond were able to observe what was likely this tornado as it emerged from the side of the mountain and out onto Moose Pond. It is possible that this tornado could have continued further across the pond and into the town of Bridgton, but damage surveys were unable to confirm this. It is this storm circulation that eventually went on to produce another tornado (previously documented) in Bridgton a few minutes later.

Considering the substantial coverage of tree damage within the core path of this tornado, winds were estimated at as high as 95 MPH, consistent with uprooting and snapping large trees. This places the tornado as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Western Maine - National Weather Service out of Gray, Maine has confirmed in western part of the state.

Statements by the National Weather Service.

...Tornado Confirmed on the West Side of Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine...

Location...Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine
Date...July 1, 2017
Estimated Time...4:42 PM
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...90 to 100 MPH
Maximum Path Width...250 YARDS
Path Length...2 MILES
Beginning Lat/Lon...44.05N
Ending lat/Lon...70.82W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Gray ME has confirmed a tornado near Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine on July 1, 2017.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed several areas of damage along a path beginning at the Shawnee Peak ski resort extending northeast across Moose Pond including the causeway on
US Highway 302. The damage was found to be consistent with a tornado and is accompanied by earlier received reports of a rain wrapped tornado crossing US 302 at the Moose Pond causeway.

The first visible damage was on the mountain at Shawnee Peak ski resort near Tycoon and Upper Roosevelt trails where several large trees were snapped and uprooted. Additional damage was noted just to the southeast of the parking lot near Jake`s Way at the intersection with Mountain Road. The tornado then moved across Moose Pond, arriving onshore again near the causeway of US 302. At
this location multiple power poles were blown over along the causeway. Additional sporadic tree damage was noted along the eastern shore of Moose Pond consistent with a tornado track. This
damage included a tree which was uprooted, causing damage to a dock on the pond. The tornado likely lifted shortly after arriving onshore and crossing US 302.

Eyewitness reports were also crucial in describing this tornado. Residents on the eastern shore of Moose Pond reported getting the Tornado Warning at 4:15 PM and then seeing a funnel pulling up
water as it crossed the pond around 4:45 PM. Another eyewitness was travelling on US 302 when he observed what he described as a rain wrapped tornado crossing the causeway over Moose Pond.

This tornado was rated as an EF1 with winds up to 100 mph. This was based on large hardwood and softwood trees snapped and uprooted along the path as well as power poles leaning due to the
wind.

...Tornado Confirmed Near Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine...

Location...Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine
Date...07/01/2017
Estimated Time...614 PM to 625 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale
Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...100 to 110 MPH
Maximum Path Width...200 Yards
Path Length...2.2 Miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...44.06N / 70.72W
Ending lat/Lon...44.06N / 70.67W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...1

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Gray ME has confirmed a tornado near Bridgton in Cumberland County Maine on 07/01/2017.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed extensive damage resulting from a tornado that formed over the southeast portion of Highland Lake. The tornado moved onshore snapping and
uprooting several large trees some of which fell onto structures and vehicles. There was a report of one minor injury due to a person being cut by glass.

The tornado appears to have briefly lifted before setting back down on the west shore of Long Lake in the vicinity of Obelazy Lane where a Camp Ground was particularly hard hit. This area
received extensive damage resulting from numerous large soft and hardwood trees falling onto cars, A-Frame buildings and camping vehicles. Despite the widespread damage...no injuries were reported in this area.

This tornado was rated a high end EF1 with winds up to 110 mph. This was based on large hard wood and softwood trees being snapped at the base of the trees. Some trees were over 2 feet in
diameter. There was no significant debarking noted which kept the rating in the EF1 category.

...Tornado Confirmed Near Sebago Lake in Cumberland County
Maine...

Location...Sebago Lake in Cumberland County Maine
Date...07/01/2017
Estimated Time...225 PM to 234 PM EDT Maximum
EF-Scale Rating...EF0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...65 to 75 MPH
Maximum Path Width...50 Yards
Path Length...1.9 Miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...43.85N / 70.61W
Ending lat/Lon...43.87N / 70.57W
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in Gray ME has confirmed a tornado over Sebago Lake in Cumberland County Maine on 07/01/2017.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed a suspected tornado that was reported on the western shore of Sebago Lake. While there was minimal damage found over land, the combination of
eyewitness reports, pictures, and video showing a well developed waterspout just off the shore of East Sebago confirm a tornado. A pontoon boat that was flipped as well as some minor damage to
fencing was likely the result of inflow winds that were blowing toward the descending funnel cloud. There were no damage indicators that would result in a rating higher than EF0.

For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph.
EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph.
EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph.
EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph.
EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph.
EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph.

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