Kennebec County, Maine

A severe thunderstorm passed through the Belgrade Lakes region on Wednesday afternoon, producing a wet microburst. Estimated wind speeds varied from 60 mph up to 90 mph. There was a concentrated damage swath about 2 miles long beginning along the eastern shore of long pond just north of Belgrade Village. The damage ended on Abena Shore Rd. to the southeast of Belgrade Village. Approximately 300 trees were uprooted and snapped with the heaviest pockets of damage immediately on the eastern shorelines of Long Pond and Hersom Point on great pond. In addition to the tree damage, approximately 6 buildings were partially damaged due to trees falling on them. An additional building had shingle damage directly caused by the wind. Two vehicles were damaged when trees fell on them. One fatality occurred when a tree fell on a pedestrian in a parked vehicle. The tree damage was extensive with many old growth white pines, oaks and willows being uprooted and or snapped. Power outages were extensive in the area with many snapped poles and downed lines.

On December 19th, the Kennebec River at Hallowell reached major flood stage, cresting at 22.5 feet at the USGS river gage. There was significant damage to riverside businesses with floodwaters reaching all the way up to Route 201 on Water Street. Flood waters filled basements and were up to 18 in over 2 dozen businesses in downtown Hallowell. Further downstream in Gardiner there was severe flooding near the confluence with the Cobbosseecontee Stream and the Kennebec River between Route 201, Bridge Street, and Water Street. Dozens of businesses and apartments were inundated with water up to 5 feet deep.

On December 19th the Kennebec River at Augusta reached the 3rd highest level on record, cresting at 26.92 feet. The other floods of record were 30.70 feet in 1936 and 34.1 feet in 1987. The river stage in Augusta has significant tidal influence so the discharge varies based on the time of day, however using estimates from upstream gages it is likely the flows fell between a 50 to 100 year event, or 1-2% annual chance exceedance level. The flooding was the result of heavy rain combined with snowmelt from the headwaters. The most significant impacts were east of Water Street south of Bond Brook and along Front Street in downtown Augusta, just south of the Calumet Bridge. Businesses along Front Street observed flood waters chest high in first floor buildings, including a U.S. Post Office. Multiple homes flooded from the Kennebec River and backwater on Bond Brook along Water Street and Bond Street on the west side of the river. Flooding was less severe on the east bank where most of the inundation was in recreational areas and portions of Howard Street.