Portland broke a 60-year-old rainfall record for Tuesday’s date, with more than two inches falling at the Portland International Jetport.
The National Weather Service in Gray said 2.38 inches of rain fell, breaking the old record of 1.63 inches set March 23, 1950.
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York County got drenched as well. Meteorologist Tom Hawley said Wells recorded 3.5 inches of rain.
Several roads in York County were flooded, including the Riverside Avenue rest area, Gowen Park Road and Whichers Mill Road, all in Sanford. Murray Road in Shapleigh remained closed Tuesday night.
The heavy rains triggered flood warnings along sections of the Saco River near Fryeburg, the Androscoggin River near Auburn and the Kennebec River in Augusta.
Westbrook police said they will continue to keep a close eye on the Presumpscot River, which had been steadily rising throughout the day. The river was expected to return to normal levels by noon today.
Lucas Kurtenbach watched anxiously Tuesday as the Great Works River edged to within five feet of his home in South Berwick.
The Great Works had risen over its banks in two recent storms, flooding his basement and rising through the floorboards on the first floor.
“All I’ve done all day is sit here and watch the river,” Kurtenbach said Tuesday night. He expected to remain in his home overnight.
Hawley, the meteorologist, said Portland is unlikely to exceed its monthly rainfall record for March.
So far, 5.28 inches of rain has fallen in Portland, but the March record, set 57 years ago, is 9.97 inches.
Hawley said the current weather pattern is likely to change. Forecasts call for significantly colder weather this weekend, with a chance of snow Monday.
Hawley said the biggest snowstorm on record for April was recorded on April 6 in 1982 when Portland got blanketed with 15.9 inches.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com
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