Staff Writer
The National Weather Service in Caribou has confirmed that a storm that moved through the area on Sunday, May 31, did, in fact, produce two funnel clouds that led to the downing of several trees and damaged buildings in parts of Aroostook County.
The storm’s path followed a line from Oxbow to Easton, moving through the area between 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday. Westfield reported the brunt of the damage, with numerous trees toppled and a building demolished on Shorey Rd. Reports indicated one tornado was on the ground from the Little Burnt Land Stream area of Westfield to an area known as “The Chute” along the Gray Rd. in Easton. When word of a possible tornado was made at a school function at Easton Jr./Sr. High School, end-of-the-year festivities being held there were temporarily halted, with students, faculty and guests being ushered to the locker rooms as a safety precaution. A power outage subsequently occurred, leaving everyone in the dark. Without power but not wanting to postpone the event, once it was safe to do so, the baccalaureate was moved to a local church whose windows provided enough light to finish the ceremony.
Another funnel reportedly struck an unorganized territory near Oxbow around the same time. Both tornadoes were classified as EF0, the weakest measured. Wind speeds were estimated between 60-75 mph.
Westfield appeared to receive the most significant damage, with dozens of trees broken or uprooted, a garage moved from its slab and a dairy barn roof ripped away. The system also brought rain and hail to the area. No injuries were reported as the result of the storm.
In Presque Isle, at least one business had staff warning customers of the storm. Wal-Mart door greeters were the first to notify customers of the possibility of a tornado in the area, with cashiers providing similar notification throughout the store. It’s reportedly Wal-Mart’s policy, when the National Weather Service issues such warnings, to take precautionary measures, warning customers of the situation, keeping patrons informed and ensuring everyone’s safety. The store stayed open and customers were allowed to complete their shopping without incident as the storm passed to the east.
For more information on weather conditions, day or night, visit www.noaa.gov.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
A TORNADO destroyed a garage on Shorey Rd. in Westfield May 31, lifting the structure from its foundation at left and dropping it on the opposite side of the road. No injuries were reported, however many trees were downed in the area due to the storm.
