CARIBOU, Maine — Two microbursts knocked down over a dozen trees in the Caribou area Wednesday night, according to Caribou National Weather Service Meteorologist Victor Nouhan.
A microburst is a localized column of sinking air, or downdraft, within a thunderstorm that can cause extensive damage at the surface, according to the NWS.
Nouhan said one occurred on the western side of Caribou on the Ogren Road while the other hit Route 1A east of Caribou near the town line between the neighboring communities of Limestone and Fort Fairfield.
He said the storm took down six to 12 trees in Caribou and another three on Route 1A.
A microburst, according to the meteorologist, occurs in an area that is less than 2½-square miles, adding that most occur in a 1-square mile area.
“It wasn’t a very widespread event,” he said. “The microbursts were pretty localized.”
The National Weather Service also received a few reports of hail from one half inch to an inch in diameter.
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- A microburst during a thunderstorm on Aug. 15 took out between six and 12 trees like this one on the Ogren Road in Caribou, according to the National Weather Service. (Christopher Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
