Weather service warns Mainers of thunderstorms, flooding and heat

Thunderstorms, heat and potential flooding prompted a string of advisories for Maine from the National Weather Service on Friday, touching nearly every part of the state. A weather bulletin from the agency Friday afternoon said a severe thunderstorm was detected near Norridgewock at about 2:15 p.m., and it was moving east at 10 mph. In an advisory that has since expired, the weather service office in Gray warned parts of Kennebec, Somerset and Franklin counties that the storm could bring wind gusts up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail, noting that could damage to buildings’ roofs and siding as well as trees. Meanwhile, much of western Maine is under a flood watch into late Friday night, warning of slow-moving storms that may produce more than 3 inches of torrential rainfall within an hour or two. Franklin and Oxford counties, interior Cumberland and York counties, and southern and central Somerset County fall under that advisory. The weather service also notes that excessive runoff could result in rapid rises in rivers and streams in those areas. It says that recent rain has already elevated water levels, increasing the flood risk. The weather service in Caribou also placed much of northwestern Maine under a similar flood watch until 3 a.m. on Saturday. Piscataquis and Aroostook counties were placed under a flood advisory Friday afternoon into the evening, with minor flooding expected in low-lying areas, according to the weather service. Advertisement Northern Piscataquis and Penobscot counties were also advised that thunderstorms could make their way into the region late Friday afternoon and evening. Most of interior southern Maine and New Hampshire also found themselves under a heat advisory Friday until about 8 p.m. Heat index values up to 97 were expected. Maine’s coastline was spared from all those warnings. The entire coast, however, was placed under a beach hazard advisory. The weather service is warning beachgoers and boaters that the water may be significantly cooler than the air. With water temperatures expected in the low 50s, the weather service said hypothermia can set in quickly. A break from the heat is expected to begin this weekend and into early next week. The weather service in Gray said a cold front is expected to cross into the area Friday night, and it should start feeling less humid Saturday. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [maine weather](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/maine-weather/), [National Weather Service](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/national-weather-service/), [weather](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/weather/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) [Drew JohnsonStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. [More by Drew Johnson](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson)