Storms cross state, cause power outages

Thunderstorms that brought strong winds and hail rolled through the state Monday night, causing power outages in some Penobscot County towns.

Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. reported customers in Charleston, Corinth, Exeter and Garland were without power at 10 p.m.

Central Maine Power customers in Abbot, Corinna, Guilford, Monson, Newport, Palmyra and Shirley also lost electricity.

Corinna firefighters responded to a downed tree across power lines on Bowden Road, according to Penobscot County dispatchers.

A thunderstorm watch was issued at 3:21 p.m. for all Maine counties except Washington and Hancock, according to meteorologist Derrick Weitlich of the National Weather Service in Caribou. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued at 6:18 p.m. for central Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and lowered at 7:15 p.m.

All watches and warnings were canceled by 9 p.m.

A frontal trough that made its way across central Penobscot County caused the storms, Weitlich said.

Aroostook County towns reported the most severe weather, he said. Van Buren reported penny-size hail at 8 p.m., and Portage residents experienced 62 mph winds around 7:30 p.m.

Weitlich forecasted a cold front will move through Maine early tonight and cause similar weather conditions statewide.