MAINE, USA — Update 4:45 p.m.:
As of Thursday afternoon, there are several reports of severe thunderstorms moving across Maine.
NEWS CENTER Maine's Jackie Mundry captured heavy rain and winds in Raymond.
The Lakes Region Fire Rescue Twitter account has posted several updates across Sebago, Standish, Windham, and Frye Island regarding downed trees and wires.
Extensive storm damage is being reported in Standish.
Ongoing incidents are being reported across towns.
Original Story:
Both 2020 and 2021 featured active severe weather seasons. This includes Maine but applies to New England as a whole.
This year, though, has actually been fairly quiet. There have only been two confirmed tornadoes in New England so far, both of which have been low-end events.
Interestingly, both of them happened in northern New England. One of them happened in New Hampshire in May, and the other happened in Vermont this past Monday.
Southern New England has not had any confirmed tornadoes as of 5 a.m. Thursday, July 21.
It's certainly possible that this all changes today. Severe weather will be possible Thursday afternoon, with all types of severe weather on the table.
Severe risk timing and impacts
Severe weather potential is fairly high for Maine and New Hampshire on Thursday.
The areas outlined in yellow by the Storm Prediction Center have the highest risk of seeing some stronger storms today. However, strong to severe weather is possible across the entire region.
A line of storms will be moving through upstate New York and Vermont in the morning. That crosses into New Hampshire and Maine in the early afternoon.
As it progresses into our area, it'll be running into hot and humid air.
This environment will be primed for strong thunderstorms to pop up quickly.
Expect storms to begin around 3 p.m. in western Maine.
This line of storms will cross the Portland, Lewiston/Auburn, and Augusta regions between 4 and 6 p.m.
Given the torrential downpours expected, the evening commute could be impacted a bit.
Storms cross through Bangor and over the Penobscot after 6 p.m.
These storms will be waning as they move Down East, exiting to our east after 8 or 9 p.m. Thursday.
The biggest risk is certainly going to come with straight-line wind gusts.
Most of these storms will have the potential to get pretty gusty.
Torrential downpours are going to be an issue, too, making driving more difficult.
Since storms will be moving quickly, though, the flash flooding threat still remains fairly low. There could still be ponding water in urban areas with poor drainage.
Hail will also be possible, mostly under the strongest storms.
Last, but certainly not least, is the non-zero tornado risk.
There will be some "twist" with the winds -- wind shear, as we call it in the weather world -- which could allow for some storms to rotate.
While it looks most likely that it will be a line of storms, any line breaks will have to be watched closely.
Tornado Stats
It has been a pretty quiet severe season so far for New England.
There have only been two confirmed tornadoes so far this year, and they have both been in northern New England.
One of those happened in New Hampshire in May. The other happened in Vermont earlier this week.
On average, Maine sees two tornadoes per year. Last year, there were none confirmed.
Despite a few tornado-warned storms this year, none have been confirmed in Maine.
You can always track Thursday's storms on the NEWS CENTER Maine radar, available both online and on our app.
If you can safely take pictures of storm damage, send them in through the "Near Me" section of our app.
Follow our team on social media for more updates throughout the next couple of days.
You can always get the latest from me, too.
- Mike Slifer, @MikeSliferWX
RELATED: NEWS CENTER Maine Weather Forecast
