Strong Thunderstorms Possible For Bangor Area, Downeast Thursday

Forecasters are warning of the possibility of strong thunderstorms around the state Thursday.

The National Weather Service is warning of strong thunderstorms Thursday afternoon.  Piscataquis and Penobscot counties are at highest risk of severe storms after 2 p.m. The NWS issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Bangor and Downeast areas, with storms potentially producing gusty winds, heavy rain and hail.

Strong thunderstorms have produced at least one tornado in Maine this year. Earlier this month, a small tornado formed near Hiram in Oxford county.

According to the National Weather Service in Gray, the tornado traveled a distance of approximately 5 miles with estimated winds of 80 MPH. The EF0 twister downed trees and ripped a tin roof off a building before dissipating over the western shore of Peabody Pond.