Portland got more than 4 inches of rain Monday from a soaking storm that reduced the brush-fire risk around the state, but did not cause the widespread flooding that some had predicted.
Only a few bridges and roads in remote sections of Maine had to be closed and major rivers such as the Kennebec did not reach flood stage. A flood warning for the state was lifted at 6 p.m. Monday.
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There were no significant power outages reported.
“It’s about what we expected … a lot of rain in a short period of time,” said Rob McAleer, spokesman for the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
McAleer said the heavy rain should go a long way toward reducing the brush-fire danger throughout the state.
Until the rains began Sunday, most of Maine had been experiencing extremely dry conditions. Only .32 inches of rain had fallen on Portland this month. Wildfires kept fire departments busy – 229 fires had been reported in Maine by April 18. Last Wednesday, the fire danger was Class 4, the second-highest risk category, according to the Maine Forest Service.
By Monday, the forest service had classified all of coastal Maine and northwestern Maine as Class 2, or moderate, wildfire danger. The rest of the state was Class 1, or low, fire danger.
The heaviest rain fell on Ferry Beach in Saco, which had received 4.1 inches of rain by late Monday morning increasing to 4.79 inches by Monday night. Portland had received 4.14 inches by Monday night. Bob Marine, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said most of the state received between 3 and 4 inches of rain.
The rain was generated by a nor’easter that took an unusual path. Rather than follow the more common track over Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine, the storm passed to the west of Maine, Marine said.
“Other than a pretty good dose of rain, the brunt of the storm passed by us to the west,” he said.
McAleer said a few bridges in Washington, Clinton and Kingfield had to be closed due to rising stream and river levels. But no other flooding was reported.
“The thing we had going for us was that the rivers were very low to begin with,” he said.
There will be a chance of showers this morning, but the sun should emerge by this afternoon, Marine said.
Wednesday’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and highs in the 50s.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com
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