LEWISTON — The area was placed under a flood warning Saturday night after much of western, southern and central Maine received a flood watch earlier in the day.
National Weather Service forecaster Sarah Thunberg said the Lewiston-Auburn area was issued a flash flood warning from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. It was apart from the flood watch that neighboring portions of Cumberland, Androscoggin, York, Kennebec, Sagadahoc and Oxford counties received. Thunberg said the warning is due to multiple storms indicating a possible 4 inches of rainfall.
“You could see possibly another 2 inches and, potentially in a really heavy thunderstorm, maybe see up to 4 inches, but I would expect more on the 2-inch end,” Thunberg said.
The warning means residents should expect flooding “at the moment” and the watch means people should be prepared to take action steps for flash flooding, Thunberg explained. More than clogged drains and culverts, flooding can happen when drainage is at maximum flow and cannot handle the additional rainfall; motorists should not test the limits of standing water in the road, she said.
The news comes after near-devastating levels of flooding on Tuesday, about 4 inches in the span of under two hours, which stranded many at times, washed out area roads and left some without a home, according to Sun Journal reports.
In Lewiston, some 10 households in a Union Street building were displaced by flooding that cascaded from the roof into units below; about 2 feet of mulch washed out into the Kennedy Park pool and two lightning strikes led to a fire and a crushed vehicle. Many low-lying roads were completely flooded.
Auburn’s Miller Alley was completely washed out and several cars fell prey to floodwaters on Minot Avenue near Elm Street. Mechanics Row Parking Garage, Broadview and Fairview avenues and areas on Center Street saw much flooding as well, sources said.
The Lewiston-Auburn area should see some relief in mostly sunny days through Thursday evening when there will be a 40% chance of showers, according to NWS forecasts. Friday will likely bring showers as well.
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