Lewiston
Population 38,866 (2025)
16 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Lewiston since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1869 (Category 1).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195020
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger24
- Major flood years since 1978, Androscoggin County1
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Androscoggin County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Androscoggin County.
Strongest tornado
F2
July 31, 1971, 2.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane (unnamed), 1869, 10.5 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 3.8 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
July 31, 1971
F2, 2.0 mile path
10 yards wide.
Most recent
Saturday, July 1, 2017
EF0, 2.5 mile path
9 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 1, 2017 | EF0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 2017 | EF1 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 2017 | EF0 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2014 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2012 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2010 | EF1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 21, 2009 | EF1 | 16.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 2005 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 1, 1998 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 1996 | F2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1988 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1971 | F2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1971 | F2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1968 | F1 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1966 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 29, 1963 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1962 | F1 | 11.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 14, 1956 | F1 | 18.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1953 | F0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
16 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 2 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 5, 1869
Unnamed storm, Category 1
10.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 92 mph.
Most recent
July 9, 2021
Elsa, Post-tropical
71.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Elsa | 2021 | 71.3 | Post-tropical |
| Andrea | 2013 | 82.0 | Post-tropical |
| Irene | 2011 | 80.0 | Post-tropical |
| Hanna | 2008 | 79.2 | Post-tropical |
| Floyd | 1999 | 31.5 | Post-tropical |
| Bertha | 1996 | 40.9 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1991 | 34.8 | Tropical storm |
| Gloria | 1985 | 40.4 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 48.6 | Post-tropical |
| Heidi | 1971 | 74.4 | Tropical storm |
| Doria | 1971 | 59.9 | Tropical storm |
| Esther | 1961 | 19.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1961 | 3.7 | Post-tropical |
| Donna | 1960 | 8.6 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1960 | 30.2 | Tropical storm |
| Cindy | 1959 | 86.3 | Tropical storm |
| Edna | 1954 | 95.0 | Category 1 |
| Carol | 1954 | 52.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1952 | 90.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 66.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 60.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 15.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 70.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 41.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 29.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1908 | 4.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 44.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 32.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 27.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 8.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 22.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 29.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 81.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 94.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 92.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 70.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 68.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 93.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 6.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 10.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 13.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 10.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 41.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1858 | 24.7 | Tropical storm |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 49 days
Heavy smoke on 6 days in 2024, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
20 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 14 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
147 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $1.1 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Androscoggin County, the county that contains Lewiston.
Most claims in one year
1987: 66 claims
$602,000 paid.
2nd most
2023: 16 claims
$312,000 paid.
3rd most
1989: 7 claims
$3,102 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 04210 | 70 | $623,000 |
| 04240 | 29 | $169,000 |
| 04282 | 8 | $19,000 |
| 04236 | 5 | $6,753 |
| 04254 | 5 | $51,000 |
| 04256 | 5 | $20,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood52
- Flash Flood27
- Heavy Rain2
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
River gauges in Androscoggin County, the county that contains Lewiston.
Most severe crest
March 20, 1936
Androscoggin River at Auburn, 27.57 ft
13.57 feet above the 14.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
December 20, 2023
Androscoggin River at Auburn, 20.27 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Androscoggin River at Auburn | 14.0 | 27.57 ft | 4 |
| Nezinscot River at Turner Center | 7.5 | 11.18 ft | 2 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 67 of 1,581 months since 1895 (4%); the longest spell lasted 10 months.
The drought index is for Androscoggin County, the county that contains Lewiston.
67
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
13
Months in extreme drought
4%
Share of all months, severe or worse
21
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
November 1941
−4.85, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
10 months
May 1941 to February 1942.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.20, severe drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes and landslides
6 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.7 in 2012.
11
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
6
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
October 16, 2012
Magnitude 4.7
5 km W of Hollis Center, Maine; 41.7 miles away, 10.0 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
October 16, 2012
Magnitude 4.7
5 km W of Hollis Center, Maine; 41.7 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Oct 16, 2012 | 4.7 | 41.7 |
| May 29, 1983 | 4.2 | 30.9 |
| Apr 26, 1957 | 4.4 | 38.5 |
| Aug 21, 1918 | 4.2 | 18.0 |
| Jan 22, 1910 | 4.1 | 23.0 |
| Jul 15, 1905 | 4.5 | 11.4 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Mapped landslides
Landslides mapped in Androscoggin County.
16
Landslides mapped, probable or better
0
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by ME GS (16).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
589 events in the National Weather Service record for Androscoggin County, 550 of them since 1996.
46
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
103
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
198
Winter weather events since 1996
3
Heat events since 1996
24
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 29, 1976
1.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 26, 1989
86 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 14 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jan 5, 1998Ice Storm, Androscoggin$31.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A severe ICE STORM hit sections of central and southern Maine from January 5 through January 9. One of the hardest hit areas stretched from Bridgton to Lewiston to Augusta to Waterville where ice accreted several inches thick on trees, power lines, and other exposed surfaces causing almost everyone in those areas to lose electrical service. Statewide, the storm knocked out power to about 365,000 customers, an estimated 840,000 people or about 70 percent of the state's population of 1.2 million people. About one third of those that lost power were without electricity for more than a week. For some, the electricity was off for up to 3 weeks. During this time, residents and those…
- May 1, 2023Flood$1.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rainfall measured between 4 to 5.5 inches fell across Androscoggin County. Small streams rapidly responded with flooding in several communities including Livermore, Turner, Auburn, Leeds, and Wales. The hardest hit area was Wales where numerous road closures including Route 132 which significantly disrupted travel in and out of the area. A washout on Turkey Lane in Livermore led to basement flooding of a nearby property.
- Apr 16, 2007Flood$1.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
An area of low pressure over the southeastern United States on the morning of Sunday, April 15th, rapidly intensified as it slowly moved north to near New York City by the morning of Monday, April 16th. This intense low in combination with high pressure over eastern Canada produced Overview: An area of low pressure intensified rapidly as it moved slowly from the southeastern United States on the morning of Sunday, April 15th to near New York City by the morning of Monday, April 16th. The intense low over New York City in combination with high pressure over eastern Canada produced a very intense pressure gradient across the area which caused strong east to northeast winds to…
- Aug 16, 2008Flash Flood$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Thunderstorms with heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in the town of Minot.
- Dec 21, 2013Ice Storm, Androscoggin$627,000
National Weather Service narrative
A major winter storm affected the State of Maine from December 21st, 2013, through January 6th,, 2014. A mixture of precipitation fell across the state from December 21st through the 23rd with snow across northern areas, a mixture of snow and sleet across north central areas, a mixture of sleet and freezing rain across south central areas, and a mixture of freezing rain and rain in southern areas. Due to the weight of the ice on tree branches and limbs from freezing rain, widespread power outages occurred in portions southern and central Maine. Because subfreezing temperatures followed the storm and persisted for about two weeks, the ice remained on the trees for a prolonged…
- Apr 28, 2005Flood, Androscoggin$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
A cold front moved through Maine on the afternoon of April 27th. Low pressure developed on the front along the coast of Maine late in the day and produced copious amounts of rainfall across the area into the morning of the 28th. Rainfall amounts of over 4 inches were common in Waldo and Knox Counties. Cushing received 7.85 inches, West Rockport received 6.63 inches, Camden received 5.28 inches, and Sedgewick received 4.13 inches. This event and the rainfall event of the 24th and 25th caused many rivers and streams to rise over their banks flooding and washing out roads. Many roads were closed which caused a major disruption to travel.The Presumpscot River at Westbrook rose above…
- Dec 19, 2023Flood$560,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Androscoggin River reached moderate flood stage on December 18th and remained in flood stage through the 20th. The flooding was the result of heavy rain and snowmelt, driven mostly by routed water from the western Maine Mountains where runoff was 8 to 10 inches between rainfall and snowmelt. Major flooding unfolded upstream in Rumford, with a dampening of the floodwave as it moved into Auburn. The flooding reached Center Street in Auburn, cutting off a main thruway. There were businesses impacted along North River Road near Center Street and along Riverside Drive. Flooding also occurred in Lewiston, where people were evacuated along Tall Pines Drive, Avon Street, Winter…
- Dec 11, 2008Ice Storm, Androscoggin$557,000
National Weather Service narrative
A major winter storm brought a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to Maine from the morning of December 11th to the morning of December 12th. The greatest impact in the state was in coastal counties of the state where a significant ice storm occurred. Following the ice storm, recovery and restoration efforts were negatively impacted by additional winter weather events that passed through the state. ||The ice storm was caused by an area of low pressure that moved northeastward along a stalled frontal boundary off the East Coast. Near ground level, cold air from eastern Canada funneled southward into the region on northerly winds. Southerly winds at higher levels of the…
- Apr 16, 1996Flood, Androscoggin$520,000
National Weather Service narrative
Low pressure moving through western New England caused flooding to parts of the state. Stream and rivers were already high from normal spring runoff and the ground was saturated. Copious heavy rains and mountain snowmelt sent streams and rivers over their banks. Roads and embankments were severely damaged, basements were flooded, and two small dams failed.Storm damage to non-federal public property was estimated at $2.5 million from the storm, including river and coastal flooding damage and the landslump damage to public property. A Federal disaster was declared for the counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Knox, Oxford, and York.
- May 1, 2023Flood$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Moose Hill Pond overtopped and caused excessive flows on Redwater Brook. This resulted in flooding of the water treatment plant and significant damages.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Augusta State Airport, 24.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 100°F2 times, most recently Jun 24, 2025
- All-time low
- −23°FFeb 2, 1962
- Warmest night
- 76°FJul 22, 2011
- Coldest day
- −8°FJan 15, 1957
- Wettest day
- 5.78 inSep 11, 1954
- Snowiest day
- 21.6 inDec 24, 1970
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 49.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1968mean 42.9°F
- Wettest year
- 200557.31 in
- Driest year
- 200125.79 in
- Snowiest season
- 132.6 in1995-96
Median first snow
November 16
Earliest: October 9, 1979
Median last snow
April 8
Latest: May 11, 1963
0 of 52 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Augusta State Airport (USW00014605), 349 ft elevation, 24.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 99.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
31 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storm and Flooding, January 30, 2024.
Declarations for Androscoggin County.
| Jan 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754-ME |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598-ME |
| Apr 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522-ME |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444-ME |
| Mar 12, 2015 | Snowstorm | DR-4208-ME |
| Mar 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4108-ME |
| Jan 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1815-ME |
| Sep 9, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1788-ME |
| Apr 25, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1693-ME |
| Sep 19, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3256-ME |
| Jun 29, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1591-ME |
| Apr 21, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3210-ME |
| Apr 1, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3209-ME |
| Mar 14, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3206-ME |
| Jan 15, 2004 | Snowstorm | EM-3190-ME |
| May 14, 2003 | Freezing | DR-1468-ME |
| Mar 20, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3164-ME |
| Apr 28, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1326-ME |
| Nov 18, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1308-ME |
| Jul 2, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1232-ME |
| Jan 13, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1198-ME |
| May 20, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1114-ME |
| Mar 13, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1106-ME |
| May 11, 1993 | Flood | DR-988-ME |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3099-ME |
| Mar 27, 1992 | Flood | DR-940-ME |
| Aug 28, 1991 | Hurricane | DR-915-ME |
| Jun 7, 1989 | Flood | DR-830-ME |
| Apr 9, 1987 | Flood | DR-788-ME |
| Jan 18, 1974 | Flood | DR-410-ME |
| Feb 27, 1970 | Flood | DR-284-ME |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014605.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.