Wednesday, November 05, 2014

October 2014 Climate Summary for northern and eastern Maine


..Northern and eastern maine monthly area climate narrative...
...A mild and wet month...

October 2014 featured above normal temperatures across northern and
eastern Maine.  Precipitation was well above normal and ranged from
150 to 200 percent of normal across most of the region.  Amounts
were a bit less in the saint john valley where they ranged from 110-
130 percent of normal.

Temperatures were above normal and ranged from 2 to 5 degrees above
normal.  At Caribou, the average temperature of 47.3 degrees was 4
degrees above normal.  It was the mildest October since 2007, and
ranked as the 7th warmest October since weather record began in
1939. At Bangor, the average temperature of 51.6 degrees was 4.4
degrees above normal.  It was the mildest October since 2007, and
ranked as the 9th warmest October since weather record began in
1926.

A total of 5.79 inches of rain was observed at Caribou, which was
2.26 inches above normal.  It was the wettest October since 2005, and
ranked as the 7th wettest October since weather record began in
1939. At Bangor,  a total of 6.85 inches of rain was
observed, which was 2.68 inches above normal.  It ranked as the 6th
wettest October on record since weather records began in 1926.

Thunder was not observed at Caribou, but was observed on one day
(the 8th) at Bangor.  Dense fog reducing the visibility to one
quarter mile or less was observed at Caribou on 3 days, and at
Bangor on 2 days.  The peak wind gust observed at Caribou was 38 mph
on the 17th.  At Bangor, the peak wind gust of 36 mph was observed
on the 7th and again on the 27th of the month.

No snow was observed at either Caribou or Bangor this past October.
Although not all that unusual to not have measurable snowfall during
the month of October at Caribou, it does happen on average of about 2
out of every 3 years.  Measurable snowfall at Bangor during the
month of October is not all that common occurring on average of
about once every ten years.

The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for the month of
November for our region calls for an increased likelihood of above
normal temperatures.  There are no strong climate signals that would
point toward an unusually wet (snowy) or dry month.  The average
temperatures continue a rapid drop off during the month of November.
At Caribou (Bangor)...The average high falls from 45 (51) to 32
(40).  The average low temperatures at Caribou (Bangor) fall from 30
(33) to 18 (23). Average monthly snowfall for november is 10.5
Inches at Caribou and 2.3 inches at Bangor. Nearly 2 hours of
daylight is lost during the month of November.