Saturday, December 13, 2014

Fall 2014 Climate Narrative for Northern and Eastern Maine




...Northern and Eastern Maine Fall 2014 Climate Narrative...

Overall, fall 2014 finished with slightly above normal
temperatures, slightly below average precipitation, and much above
Normal snowfall.

Despite the average of nearly a degree above for the season, topsy-
turvy is a better description for how temperature progressed through
this fall. A below average September was followed by a much above
average October and then a significantly below average November.

Fall precipitation ranged from as low as 70 percent of average
across portions of east central and Down East Maine to as much as 110
percent across the far north. The season began quite dry for all of
the region, with many rivers and streams experiencing near record
flow rates by mid October. Precipitation then increased dramatically
by late October with the first in a series of strong widespread fall
storms, which continued through november when the temperature
regime became much colder.

The combination of colder temperatures and a continued stormy
pattern resulted in a record early double digit snowfall for much of
the region right in the opening days of November followed by other
snow events later in the month. This resulted in the second (fourth)
snowiest fall at Bangor (Caribou) where the total of 25.9 (28.8)
inches was just behind the snowiest fall of 32.4 (35.3) inches
recorded in 1962 (1974). Although much of the month featured snow
covered days, espeically across the north, several rain events
accompanied by a few periods of mild temperatures kept snow pack
from building or even being continuous during the final month of the
season.