Violent Storms Lead to Power Outages and Flash Floods

Severe thunderstorms tore through northern Maine and New Brunswick late Sunday knocking out power and downing trees.  Grand Falls and Victoria County were under a tornado warning for a time.  The National Weather Service said a possible funnel cloud was spotted near Eagle Lake around 3:40 Sunday afternoon. Numerous trees were reported down in that area along Route 11.

The town of Van Buren took a hit from the storm with quarter-sized hail reported around 4 o’clock. That was followed by a flash flood with as much as 5 or 6 inches of water flowing through the streets.  Main Street in Van Buren had to be closed last evening due to flooding.  It was a similar situation in neighboring St. Leonard, New Brunswick with flooded streets reported after torrential downpours.

Maine Public Service and Bangor Hydro Electric crews were out all night working to restore service to some 6500 customers. Statewide, nearly 20,000 homes and businesses lost power in the storms.