The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Tornado Watch for Lincoln County. The watch is in effect until 8 p.m. and may be upgraded to a Tornado Warning if it becomes imminent that a tornado will impact the area.
Other counties included in the watch are Franklin, Kennebec, Somerset, Knox, and Waldo. Tornado Watches presently extend as far south as New York City.
Residents should monitor local media, NWS weather radio and other resources to track the progress of these storms. In the event that a tornado does strike, the safest place to be is in the lowest part of your home, such as the basement. If there is no basement, retreat to the innermost room of your home and take cover. If you are in the open or in your vehicle seek out a ditch or other low place to take cover, or take cover under your vehicle. (Do not remain in the vehicle.)
The greatest danger from a tornado likely to hit in wooded areas such as Lincoln County is from flying debris, so take whatever a steps required to minimize this risk.
All of these watches are in regard to line of storms that are steadily strengthening as they track east-northeast toward the eastern seaboard. The northernmost edge of this line is presently crossing the western New Hampshire border. This line of storms is easily discernible on radar images, and can be tracked at www.intellicast.com (enter your local zip code and then click on “current loops” under the “radar” tab).
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this event and report any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
