Maine Storm History: Hail, Wind and Top Storm Days
By StormAuditor Editorial Team · Published 2026-08-10 · Updated 2026-10-07
Based on public NOAA and National Weather Service records, published under StormAuditor's methodology and data-source standards. Radar-derived hail sizes are estimates unless attributed to a ground report.
Damage-threshold ranges in this article are general guidance synthesized from industry and federal research — IBHS building-performance research, NWS severe criteria, and product standards such as UL 2218 (hail impact resistance) and ASTM D3161/D7158 (shingle wind ratings). Actual performance depends on product rating, age, installation quality, exposure, and impact characteristics — thresholds describe when damage becomes possible, not when it occurs.
Maine logged 284 storm events across all 16 counties in the 12 months ending October 7, 2026. NOAA records since 2010 show hail up to 2.75 in. and a strongest measured thunderstorm gust of 86 mph, with hail peaking in June and August.
Maine's storm history is a summer story. In the 12 months ending October 7, 2026, StormAuditor's public-record tally holds 284 storm events across all 16 counties, and the busiest day was July 16, 2026, with 33 events. NOAA's NCEI records since 2010 show the state's largest hail at 2.75 inches and its strongest measured thunderstorm gust at 86 mph.
The past 12 months
Wind made up 160 of the 284 events, hail 90, flood 33 and tornado 1 (tornado counts include warnings, not only confirmed tornadoes). In 2026 through early October, Maine logged 3 hail days and 13 wind days at StormAuditor's screening thresholds (45 mph wind or 0.75-inch hail, from storm reports and station gusts; warnings alone never count).
Piscataquis County led with 39 events, then Aroostook (38), Penobscot (27), Cumberland (26), Oxford (23), Hancock (22), Somerset (22) and York (15).
The busiest days by event count, NWS warnings included, were July 16, 2026 (33 events), August 13, 2026 (23), March 17, 2026 (20), June 18, 2026 (18) and June 21, 2026 (17).
Notable storm days
- August 13, 2026 — 1.00-inch hail 2 S Portland Jetport and a 69 mph gust measured at the Portland Jetport station (Portland storm day).
- June 28, 2026 — 1.00-inch hail 3 N Belgrade in Kennebec County, and a 60 mph measured gust.
- June 18, 2026 — a 69 mph gust reported 1 ESE Kittery.
- July 16, 2026 — the busiest day; the Bangor airport station measured 60 mph.
- March 17, 2026 — 61 mph measured 4 SSE Criehaven.
- February 23, 2026 — 69 mph measured 4 SSE Criehaven.
- December 19–20, 2025 — airport stations measured 66 mph at Bangor and Millinocket and 63 mph at Frenchville and Bar Harbor.
Maine storm history since 2010
From January 2010 through October 6, 2025, NOAA's NCEI logged 284 storm days in Maine and 2,203 entries. Thunderstorm wind outnumbers hail about 3.5 to 1: 1,689 wind reports against 483 hail reports.
- Busiest years: 2011, 2013 and 2017, with 25 storm days each. The fewest in a full year was 9, in 2023, and 2022–2024 averaged 15 a year against a 15-year average of 18.
- Seasons: hail peaks in June and August, tied at 142 reports each, and thunderstorm wind peaks in July. December through February accounts for 3 storm days.
- Largest hail: 2.75 inches (baseball size), reported in 2011 and 2015, most recently on July 19, 2015 in York County. Hail of 2 inches or more appears in 6 different years, most recently 2023.
- Strongest measured thunderstorm gust: 86 mph on July 24, 2012 in Cumberland County.
- Tornadoes: 31 tornado entries, one entry per county a tornado crossed.
Hail of 1 inch or larger, the NWS severe size, was reported in every full year from 2010 to 2024.
Event counts on this page come from StormAuditor's public-record tally: one event is one place on one day for each hazard type, and NWS warnings and Special Weather Statements count, so a busy warning day can outrank a day with bigger hail. The NOAA history figures come from the NCEI Storm Events Database, a separate, reviewed record with its own counting. The storm data page explains both.
Researching a date at a Maine address
- The Maine storm data page lists recent storm days, county totals and the NOAA history, with free CSV and JSON downloads.
- Address Lookup, free with an account, lists NWS warnings, storm reports and NOAA station observations near any address.
- The Free Report Snapshot gives a YES or NO on whether estimated wind reached 45 mph or estimated hail reached 0.75 inch at the address.
- The $2.99 Single Weather Report lists every qualifying storm date at one address with the estimated peak gust and estimated maximum hail size.
Limitations
- Sparsely populated areas file fewer storm reports, and stations sit miles apart.
- Coastal and island stations such as Criehaven read higher than sheltered inland towns.
- Public records can change after publication. None of this is a damage determination or a finding of cause. See Limitations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest hail on record in Maine?
2.75 inches (baseball size) in NOAA's NCEI records since 2010, reported in 2011 and 2015, most recently on July 19, 2015 in York County.
When was the last hail storm in Maine?
The most recent hail of 0.75 inch or larger was 1.00 inch 2 S Portland Jetport on August 13, 2026.
What is the strongest wind gust recorded in Maine?
The strongest measured thunderstorm gust in NCEI records since 2010 is 86 mph, on July 24, 2012 in Cumberland County. In the 12 months ending October 7, 2026, measured gusts reached 69 mph at Portland Jetport on August 13, 2026 and at Criehaven on February 23, 2026.
When is storm season in Maine?
Summer. Hail peaks in June and August and thunderstorm wind in July, and December through February accounts for only 3 NOAA storm days since 2010.
How do I check storm history for my Maine address?
Run the Free Report Snapshot for a YES or NO at the address, or use the free Address Lookup for the warnings, reports and station observations near it on a date.