Sporadic thunderstorms swept through the coast of Maine on June 17, battering the Boothbay and Wiscasset region with high winds and heavy rains in a matter of 30 minutes.

Areas of the coast received up to 1.5 inches of rain, according to meteorologist Eric Schwibs of the National Weather Service in Gray. “Some of those storms had strong winds with them as well as hail, and also very brief but heavy rainfall,” Schwibs said.

Schwib referred to the event as a micro-burst, a typical trait of storms that pass through New England during the summer months.   

“The peak hours, especially for stronger storms, is from mid-afternoon into the evening hours,” Schwib said. “They blow up and intensify for a bit, then they weaken and die out.”

Schwib said has been working with the National Weather Service for over 20 years. Based off personal observations, he has noticed the frequency of severe thunderstorms in Northern New England has increased over the past decade.

If caught off guard in a severe storm, the first thing to do is seek immediate shelter. High winds pose hazards with fallen limbs and power lines. Avoid being caught on a boat in open water when lightning is present, Schwib said.