October 2015 Climate Summary for Northern and Eastern Maine

...Northern and eastern Maine monthly climate narrative...           

October 2015 finished with below normal temperatures across northern and eastern Maine. The month featured below normal precipitation in most areas, but a late month rain storm produced above normal rainfall for the month across parts of Washington and Penobscot Counties.

The average temperatures this past October ranged from 1 to 3 Degrees below normal.  At Caribou, the average temperature of 41.7 degrees was 1.6 degrees below normal. At Bangor, the average temperature of 45.6 degrees was also 1.6 degrees below normal. It was the coolest October across the region since 2009.  There were a total of 18 nights with a low temperature of 32 degrees or lower at Caribou, which was above the long term average of 13 nights. At Bangor, there were 13 nights with a low of 32 degrees or lower, which was above the long term average of 8.

From October 17th-19th, the high temperature failed to climb above 40 degrees at Caribou. This tied with 1939 and 1970 for the most consecutive days with a high of 40 degrees or lower so early in the season.

Precipitation was more variable in nature, but across most areas ranged from 50 to 80 percent of normal.  There were some spots in Washington county and central Penobscot county that had above normal precipitation that ranged from 150 to 200 percent of normal.  The above normal precipitation was due to a rain event on the 29th that locally produced 3 to 4 inches of rain in parts of Washington County. Aside from this late month rain event, the rainfall character for the vast majority of the month across the region was relatively dry.

The fall foliage peaked about two weeks later than normal due to an unusually warm September. The leaves reached peak across far northern Maine toward the middle of the month, but not until late month across the Downeast region.

Only 3 tenths of an inch of snow was observed at Caribou, and no snow was observed at Bangor.  A weather system did produce up to 6 inches of wet snow in the Katahdin region on the 17th with around 2 inches of snow in parts of southern Aroostook County.

The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for the month of November calls for an increased likelihood of above normal temperatures across northern and eastern Maine.  Long range Indications call for an increased chance of below normal precipitation across the region.

The average temperatures continue to drop rapidly during the month of November. At Caribou (Bangor), the average highs fall from 45 (51) on the 1st to 40 (45) by the end of the month. The average lows at Caribou (Bangor) fall from 30 (33) to 18 (23) by months end. Over one and one half hours of available daylight is lost during the month. The average snowfall at Caribou during the month of November is 10.5 inches, and at bangor is 2.3 inches.