Aroostook County, Maine
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 23003 · population 67,034 · 6,671 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 2,010 records for Aroostook County, Maine from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 755 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (740 records). 1,074 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the February 17, 2013 blizzard, filed for the forecast zone Northeast Aroostook, which covers the county: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1970, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Lee” on September 14, 2023.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 2,010on 755 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 634 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $27Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 30strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2023
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Aroostook County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 740 since 1996. 44% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Maine's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 740 | 332 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 15 | $3.8M | 16 of 16 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 561 | 171 | 1960-2026 | 1 | 5 | – | 13 of 16 |
| Hail | 213 | 96 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 12 of 16 |
| Floods | 162 | 102 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $17M | 16 of 16 |
| Extreme cold | 137 | 56 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 16 |
| High wind and dust storms | 113 | 46 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 16 of 16 |
| Tornadoes | 30 | 26 | 1954-2017 | 1 | 5 | $4.6M | 9 of 16 |
| Heat | 23 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 16 |
| Drought | 22 | 14 | 2020-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 16 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 5 | 2 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 1 | – | 15 of 16 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2006-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 16 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 4 | – | 15 of 16 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 4 | – | 16 of 16 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Aroostook County had?
NOAA records 30 tornadoes in Aroostook County from 1954 to 2017, the strongest rated F2, with 1 death and 5 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 30 tornadoes whose track touched Aroostook County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 30, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954-08-11 17:27, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F2 | 1 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maine.
Every tornado record filed for Aroostook County (30)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-08-05 | Golden Ridge, Aroostook County | EF1 0.48 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-07-18 | Hanford, Aroostook County | EF0 0.07 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-26 | Ludlow, Aroostook County | EF0 0.23 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-09 | Ft Fairfield, Aroostook County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-08 | Frenchville Lower, Aroostook County | EF0 0.08 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-08 | Jemtland, Aroostook County | EF0 8.95 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-06-26 | Jemtland, Aroostook County | EF0 0.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-31 | Westfield, Aroostook County | EF1 7.04 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-31 | Westfield, Aroostook County | EF1 2.81 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-31 | St Croix, Aroostook County | EF0 1.18 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-24 | Eagle Lake, Aroostook County | EF1 2.73 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-07-15 | Guerette, Aroostook County | EF0 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-07-23 | Knowles Corner, Aroostook County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-07-04 | Littleton, Aroostook County | F1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-24 | Oakfield, Aroostook County | F1 10 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1997-07-28 | Ft Kent, Aroostook County | F0 0.1 mi x 8 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-07-01 | Aroostook County | F0 3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1994-06-18 | Southern Caribou, Aroostook County | F1 10 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1994-06-18 | St. Francis To, Aroostook County | F1 20 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 2 | $995K |
| 1971-10-12 | Aroostook County | F1 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1971-07-01 | Aroostook County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1965-09-21 | Aroostook County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1963-05-19 | Aroostook County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1961-07-18 | Aroostook County | F1 0.5 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-06-29 | Aroostook County | F1 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-08-29 | Aroostook County | F1 9.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-08-15 | Aroostook County | F1 1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1958-08-15 | Aroostook County | F2 17 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1957-09-16 | Aroostook County | F2 2.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-08-11 | Aroostook County | F2 1 mi x 27 yd | 1 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Aroostook County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 17, 2025 thunderstorm wind (1 death).
A woman was killed while camping in the Allagash Wilderness region when thunderstorm winds toppled a tree on to her tent.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1269610)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | HailSt Agatha, Aroostook County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-10 | Thunderstorm WindDow, Aroostook County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-05 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Southeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-05 | SleetAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-05 | SleetAroostook County · forecast zone Northwest Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Southeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Winter StormAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Winter StormAroostook County · forecast zone Northwest Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtAroostook County · forecast zone Northwest Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Southeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Northwest Aroostook | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-02-17 | BlizzardAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 2 to 4 inches...along with blizzard conditions. Whiteout conditions contributed to a fatal traffic accident (M22VE) near Presque Isle during the morning of the 18th. The accident involved a pickup truck...an SUV...a snow plow and a logging truck. In addition to the ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 1954-08-11 | TornadoAroostook County | F2 1 mi x 27 yd | 1 | 1 | $25K step |
| 2025-07-17 | Thunderstorm WindAllagash, Aroostook County A woman was killed while camping in the Allagash Wilderness region when thunderstorm winds toppled a tree on to her tent. | 40 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2014-10-10 | Strong WindAroostook County · forecast zone Southeast Aroostook Winds gusting to around 30 mph and choppy waves capsized a 12 foot aluminum boat on Wytopitlock Lake during the afternoon of the 10th. The two fishermen in the boat were thrown into the water when the boat capsized. One fisherman was able to swim to safety. However...the other fisherman never reached shore and his ... | 26 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2014-04-15 | FloodHamlin, Aroostook County Mild temperatures of around 60 to the mid 60s caused rapid snow melt and runoff during the 14th which led to rising river and stream levels. Heavy rain then occurred during the 15th in advance of a slow moving cold front along with continued mild temperatures which contributed to further runoff. Rainfall totals during ... | 1 | 0 | $100K | |
| 2002-01-13 | Winter StormAroostook County · forecast zone Southeast Aroostook Low pressure organizing along the Mid-Atlantic coast during Saturday the 12th rapidly intensified while lifting through the Gulf of Maine to Nova Scotia from the 13th into the early morning hours of the 14th.Precipitation overspread the region early on the 13th. Across northern areas...precipitation remained snow ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2019-04-04 | Winter WeatherAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook Sustained west to northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph...with gusts up to around 50 mph...created extensive blowing and drifting snow along with slippery road conditions. The hazardous travel conditions led to accidents and road closures. | 0 | 12 | – | |
| 2011-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindHarvey, Aroostook County A tree was toppled at a camp site by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph. The falling tree injured 4 campers. All injuries were non-life threatening. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 4 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-01-05 | Heavy SnowAroostook County · forecast zone Northeast Aroostook | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | |
| 2018-04-28 | FloodSkerry, Aroostook County | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 2016-08-11 | HailCaribou, Aroostook County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2008-04-30 | FloodStimson, Aroostook County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 2008-04-29 | FloodHamlin, Aroostook County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 2008-05-01 | FloodHamlin, Aroostook County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 1994-06-18 | TornadoSt. Francis To, Aroostook County | F1 20 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 2 | $995K |
| 1994-07-26 | HailAroostook County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $995K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 1, 1971 (tornado, Aroostook County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Aroostook County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 86 | 207 | 194 | 253 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 146 | 296 | 61 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 79 | 81 | 27 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 75 | 56 | 18 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 27 | 66 | 31 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 25 | 54 | 15 | 19 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 260 · Feb 197 · Mar 175 · Apr 114 · May 124 · Jun 211 · Jul 364 · Aug 196 · Sep 48 · Oct 52 · Nov 84 · Dec 185 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Aroostook County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Aroostook County: 13 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (9) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-14 | EM-3598 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4522 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3444 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-02-01 | DR-1953 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-05-09 | DR-1755 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-02-24 | EM-3265 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3256 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-06-29 | DR-1591 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams |
| 2005-04-01 | EM-3209 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-03-14 | EM-3206 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2004-01-26 | EM-3194 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-01-15 | EM-3190 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2003-05-14 | DR-1468 | Freezing | Severe Winter Cold and Frost |
| 2003-03-11 | EM-3174 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2001-03-20 | EM-3164 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2000-04-28 | DR-1326 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1198 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High Winds |
| 1994-05-13 | DR-1029 | Flood | Flooding and Ice Jams |
| 1993-05-11 | DR-988 | Flood | Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3099 | Snowstorm | Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal Storm |
| 1991-04-19 | DR-901 | Snowstorm | Severe Storms, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1974-01-18 | DR-410 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-05-23 | DR-384 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1970-02-27 | DR-284 | Flood | Severe Storms, Ice Jams & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Aroostook County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 162 flood or flash flood records for Aroostook County from 1996 to 2026, on 102 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Aroostook County ranks 659th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Lee | 2023-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.6 million on 358 claims filed in Aroostook County; the most in one year was 79 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1979: 56 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 11 · 1982: 22 · 1983: 23 · 1984: 2 · 1986: 4 · 1987: 6 · 1988: 2 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 15 · 1993: 15 · 1994: 40 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 4 · 1998: 6 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 9 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 7 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 79 · 2009: 4 · 2010: 7 · 2011: 5 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2025: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Aroostook County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Aroostook County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $34.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Very High | $1.6M | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $15M | 9.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $2.5M | once in about 17 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $14M | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $165K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $498K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $13K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 305 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Aroostook County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MaineEvery Maine tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in MaineThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Maine recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Aroostook CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Aroostook County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis