Spring 2014 Climate Summary (March-May) for northern and eastern Maine

THE COLDEST MARCH ON RECORD IN MANY AREAS...

Overall the spring of 2013/2014 was much colder than normal and temperatures averaged 3 to 5 degrees below normal. Precipitation was more variable across the region and was generally above normal across much of eastern Maine and below normal across parts of Hancock county and northern Somerset county.

It was the coolest spring on record at Caribou since 2003 and the coolest at Bangor since 1972.  Temperatures in March were the coldest on record, which accounted for much of the departure. Temperatures in April were slightly below normal, and in May were slightly above normal.

Precipitation varied from 80 to 150 percent of normal across the region. The highest departures from normal were generally across eastern Maine.  The combination of a record cold March and above normal snowfall in March, especially across northern Maine led to one of the deepest snow packs on record at the start of April.  Even by May 1st there were still some areas in the north Maine woods and across the western mountains that had a foot or more of snow on the ground.

Breakup occurred around the middle of April and led to numerous areas of flooding on area rivers. The first severe weather of the season affected northern and eastern Maine, mainly along and near the Canadian Border on the 26th of May.  There were numerous reports of large hail and a confirmed EF-0 tornado in Ludlow in Aroostook County. A cool air mass in the wake of the severe weather produced frost in many areas all the way to the Down East coast on the morning of the 29th of May.