Central and western Maine have an unusually high chance of a tornado touching down Tuesday, according to federal weather forecasters.

The risk is highest in the Somerset County region, at 10%.

“In the records, we’ve never had a 10% risk in this area of the state,” said Chris Legro, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray.

Legro said the storm prediction center looks at 25-mile rings around a location. “And what that percentage is saying is there’s a 10% chance of a tornado occurring in that 25-mile circle around any given point,” Legro said. “So, even though it’s a relatively small number, that’s a pretty large risk, especially for this part of the country.”

Legro says that this equates to a 50-100 times greater chance of a tornado compared to an average July day.

Lewiston, Augusta and Bangor are facing a 5% tornado risk, while Southern Maine and coastal communities had a 2% risk as of Tuesday afternoon.

Winds up to 70 miles per hour and hail over 2 inches thick are also projected in parts of Maine on Tuesday night.

TORNADOS IN MAINE

Tornados are fairly rare in the state – with only about two touching down each year, according to Maine Emergency Management Agency. The tornados that do form are usually short-lived, and most have happened during the summer while severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect.

Although Maine is facing an increased risk, no parts of the state were under a formal tornado watch, warning or emergency as of Tuesday afternoon. Legro said in the morning that conditions could progress into a watch or warning, though.

A tornado watch would mean that all of the elements needed to create a tornado are present, while a warning means that a touchdown is imminent, Legro says. “The best way to describe it is: (if you have) a watch, you have all the ingredients and (if you have a) warning, the meal is going to be done.”

If the National Weather Service issues a tornado watch, residents should be prepared to act quickly.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

The first line of the defense is to ensure that you have some way to receive warnings: whether through your phone, television or radio, Legro said.

“Now is the time to prepare for how you’re going to shelter,” should you need to later today, he said. “We don’t want to be trying to find shelter as the storm’s approaching, but create a plan now so that you know what you’re going to do later if you have to take action.”

If a tornado warning is issued in your area, take shelter immediately, Legro said. Look for a place that’s indoors and is away from windows. The safest place is the interior part of a basement or the lowest floor in the building, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency also warns that mobile homes and cars offer little to no protection and sheltering in them can be dangerous. It cautions drivers who think they can outrun tornados.

If caught outside during one of these events, your best bet is to lie down flat in a gully, ditch or low spot on the ground and to protect your head with your arms, the weather service says.

Smoke blowing from fires in Western Ontario may also have an impact on this evening’s weather, Hunter Tubbs, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service said. This smoke has meant that parts of Maine, including around Portland, have cooler, orange-hued overcast skies instead of the forecasted 90 degrees and sunshine.