CHESTERVILLE — Trees and power lines fell on cars during one thunderstorm, a tornado warning was in effect with another and hail the size of pingpong balls caused damage to vehicles during a third storm Tuesday afternoon.
According to meteorologist Michael Cempa of the National Weather Service, reports of weather-related damage came from Farmington, Jay, Sabattus, Wales, Fayette, Wayne and Chesterville along with Waldo, Kennebec and Somerset counties.
Thunderstorms develop when the weather is warm and humid, Cempa said.
The first storm hit Farmington moving south through Lisbon and Durham, dumping hail at times the size of pingpong balls from about 2 to 4 p.m.
The storm knocked down seven trees on a ¾-mile stretch of Campground Road in Livermore Falls, Deputy Fire Chief Alan Chretien said.
One of the trees took down a power line, he said.
Chesterville also had reports of fallen trees and power lines.
Derek Burnham called his father, Richard Burnham, both of Chesterville, about trees coming down on the elder man’s property.
Four trees and many large branches of other trees fell, damaging Burnham’s home and car. One tree damaged shingles on the house and landed on his wife’s car. Another tree grazed the house, tearing an eave off one corner.
“I never saw a storm like it,” Derek Burnham said. “It was pretty intense. There was wicked hail and wind.”
“I didn’t think it was as bad as it was,” Richard Burnham said. “My son didn’t realize the car was under the tree. He couldn’t see it from his house.”
The younger Burnham said a neighbor pointed out that the tree had landed on the car.
Richard Burnham’s daughter was caring for four children ages 7 to 16 in his home when the storm hit.
“They called my wife, screaming,” Burnham said. They were scared, but no one was injured.
A third storm hit Somerset County in Pittsfield, moving south through Unity and Clinton, and Waldo and Kennebec counties.
A tornado warning in Somerset County was issued from 5:30 p.m. to about 6 p.m. There were no reports of damage and no confirmation of anyone seeing a tornado, Cempa said.
“It was radar-indicated,” he said.
Staff Writer Donna Perry contributed to this report.
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