Severe thunderstorms to bring flash flooding, damaging wind into Monday night

A cold front is approaching the state from the west Monday afternoon. Warm and humid conditions around the state clashing with colder air aloft from the approaching system is the combination for severe weather potential.

Wind from the southwest will build as the front approaches. This will pump in even more warm air and humidity into the region. Precipitable water indices could top out in the 2″ level for much of the state, which brings the threat of downpours and flash flooding.

With the heavy rain comes the concern for damaging downdraft winds which may cause microbursts and/or tornadic activity. Frequent lightning most always accompany these types of supercell storms, as well as hail.

The Storm Prediction Center has most of Maine in the slight risk category for severe storms. A severe thunderstorm watch is likely for northern, western and southern Maine.

Anyone engaged in outdoor activity should keep an eye on the sky and seek shelter in a secure building as storms approach.

As the front approaches the coast this evening, it will begin to lose energy and begin to washout. The threat for showers and storms continues into Monday night and early Tuesday. The severe threat appears to dissipate later Monday night.

Another cold front will approach the region on Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast for the state through Wednesday.

Stay up to date with the latest severe weather information with the National Weather Service.

-Mike Haggett

For official forecast information: please check in with National Weather Service Gray for Western & Southern Maine and National Weather Service Caribou for Eastern & Northern Maine.

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Special thanks to Tropical Tidbits and Pivotal Weather for their written permission to use their graphics in this post. Use of WeatherTAP images used within their written permitted terms of media use policy. Additional forecast information supplied by the National Weather Service, WeatherBELL Analytics and AccuWeather Professional.

Always Stay Weather Aware!

Mike Haggett

About Mike Haggett

As a Mainer for nearly five decades, Mike understands all too well the ever changing weather forecasts and surprises given the location and geography of the state. Spending much of his time as child outdoors fishing in all four seasons, keeping track of the weather was a must for personal safety. Living firsthand through the impacts of weather through many types of storms and phenomena, the idea came to mind for him to analyze it closer in 2011.