May 2015 Climate Summary for northern and eastern Maine

...Northern and eastern maine monthly area climate narrative...

 

May 2015 featured well above normal temperatures and in most
locations below normal precipitation. Temperatures averaged from 2.5
to 4.5 degrees above normal. It was the first month since December
of 2014 with above normal temperatures. Precipitation ranged from 40
to 75 percent of normal in most areas.  A few spots had near to
slightly above normal precipitation across east-central Maine. Parts
of the Downeast region had only 25 to 40 percent of normal
precipitation.

At Caribou, the average temperature of 55.7 degrees was 4.2 degrees
above the 1981-2010 normals. It was the warmest May since 2001, and
ranked as the 6th warmest May on record.  There were only 5 days
during the entire month when the average daily temperature was below
normal.  One record warm low temperature was tied on the 27th when
the low temperature was 61 degrees.  This tied the record that was
last set in 1944. A low temperature of 60 degree or warmer during
the month of may occurs on average of about once every ten years.
This past May was the first time the temperature did not drop to 32
or lower during the month of May since 1998, and was only the 3rd
time on record that the temperature did not drop to the freezing
mark during the month of May. On average, the last freezing
temperature at Caribou is observed on may 15th.

At Bangor, the average temperature of 57.4 degrees was 3.7 degrees
above average. It was the warmest May since 2010, and ranked as the
12th warmest May on record. There were 12 days with an average
temperature that was below normal. On the 28th, the low temperature
of 60 degrees tied with 1959 for the warmest low temperature on that
date.  It was the first time since 1991 with a low temperature of 60
degrees or warmer during the month of May. On average a low
temperature of 60 degrees or warmer during the month of May is
observed about once every 6 years. The last freezing temperature of
the season was observed on May 2nd when the low was 29 degrees. On
average the last freezing temperature of the season is observed
during the first week of may at Bangor.

A total of 2.75 inches of rain (and melted snow) was observed at
Caribou, which was 58 hundredths (0.58") of an inch below normal.
It was the driest May since 2010. A total of 3 tenths of an inch
(0.3") of snow was observed. This was the first time there was
measurable snowfall in May since 2007. On average measurable
snowfall is observed at Caribou once every three years.

At Bangor, a total of 2.32 inches of rain was observed, which was
1.32 inches below normal.  It was the driest May since 2010.  No
snow was observed this past May, which is not unusual for Bangor
where measurable snowfall in May occurs on average of about once
every 15 years.

On the morning of the 23rd, a total of 0.3 inches of snow was
observed at Caribou.  This was the 2nd latest measurable snowfall on
record.  It was also the greatest snowfall observed so late in the
Season. The greatest snowfall total was observed 2 miles north of
Portage with a total of 5.2 inches of snow.  During the last several
days of the month severe thunderstorms were observed across parts of
northern and eastern Maine on the 27th and 28th.

The outlook from the Climate Predication Center
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ for June indicates an increased
likelihood of both above normal temperatures and above normal
precipitation. Average temperatures continue to rise, but not as
rapidly as during the early spring.  The average high at Caribou
rises from 68 on the 1st to 75 by months end.  The average low rises
from 45 on the 1st to 54 by the 30th.  At Bangor, the average high
climbs from 70 at the start of the month to 78 by the end of the
Month. The average low rises from 48 to 56 degrees.

Many areas across New England had a top 10 warmest May on record.