The devastating wind storm that hit Maine left nearly 420,000 without power and at least two dead across the state on Monday. Several western Maine communities were hit hard by flooding, which closed roads and blocked off routes. In Bangor, some stores and restaurants in remained open Tuesday.
A sign is seen in the parking lot behind the Quarry Tap Room, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Hallowell, Maine. Waters continue to rise in the Kennebec River following Monday’s severe storm. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP
An oil tank floats behind a flooded mobile home in Dixfield on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, near the Androscoggin River. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Propane tanks set free by flood waters discharge gas as they float on the Kennebec River through Augusta, Maine, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Waters continue to rise in the river following Monday’s severe storm. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Spectators watch the flooded Kennebec River flow through Augusta, Maine, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Waters continue to rise in the river following Monday’s severe storm. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP
A truck makes its way through the overflowing Androscoggin River on Route 2 in Dixfield on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. The road was closed but the driver took his chances. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Workers from Consolidated Communications repair downed power lines on Access Highway in Caribou after a wind storm ripped through Aroostook County Monday. Credit: Melissa Lizotte / Aroostook Republican
Because of the extensive statewide damage, it could take days for some Maine communities to get their power back. Of Versant’s 160,000 customers, 95,000 did not have power Tuesday morning. The company is working to restore power through the end of the week.
As of 1 p.m., Central Maine Power Co. reported 291,189 outages across its service area, with the highest numbers in Androscoggin, Cumberland and York counties.
The statue of Paul Bunyan outside of the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor escaped Monday’s storm unharmed, as a tree branch is seen in front of the statue on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Credit: Valerie Royzman / BDN
Nathan Sennett hands furniture to Tori Grasse as they work in hip-deep water on the patio of the Quarry Tap Room, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Hallowell, Maine. Waters continue to rise in the Kennebec River following Monday’s severe storm. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP
A large chunk of a 60-foot white pine tree lays across Ellen Briggs’ yard in Portland, Maine, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Utility crews are working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Maine and some rivers continued to rise following a powerful storm that hit the northeastern U.S. Credit: Patrick Whittle / AP
A large tree by the Bangor Public Library was destroyed during the recent wind and rain storm as seen on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN
A tree rests along a powerline in Litchfield, Maine, on Dec. 18, 2023. Credit: Mike Dowd / BDN
A high-wind storm uprooted a tree along the Kenduskeag Stream in downtown Bangor on Dec. 18, 2023. Credit: Marie Weidmayer / BDN
So far, at least two deaths have been confirmed from the storm. A man was killed in Fairfield when he was hit by a tree felled by the storm as it tried to move it with a tractor. Another man died when he was hit by a tree while clearing storm debris from his home in Windham.
As the cleanup proceeds, Mainers can expect daytime temperatures to remain warm by December standards, with the mercury hovering in the mid-40s. But temperatures will begin to fall below freezing by nightfall, according to the weather station in Caribou.
The highest recorded wind gust in recent history, which reached 93 mph, was recorded in Trescott, a small unorganized territory near Lubec in Washington County, during Monday’s storm. The town of Newry saw the most rainfall on Monday, recording 7.2 inches of rain throughout the storm.
BDN reporters Chris Burns, Marie Weidmayer, Valerie Royzman and BDN editor Paul Koenig contributed to this report.
