April 2016 Climate Summary for Northern and Eastern Maine

...Climate summary for April 2016 for northern and eastern Maine...

Overall, April 2016 finished with below average temperatures and precipitation across northern and eastern Maine. Temperatures averaged from 2 to 4 degrees below average. Precipitation was more variable, and ranged from 50 to 90 percent of average, with most if It falling during the first two weeks of the month.

At Caribou, the average temperature of 35.7 degrees was 2.9 degrees below the 30-year average.  It was the coolest April since 2003. At Bangor, the average temperature of 40.5 degrees was 2 degrees below average. It was the coolest April since 2007.

The low temperatures at Caribou on the 28th and 29th were 19 degrees And 18 degrees respectively.  Although neither were records, it is unusual to have back to back lows in the teens so late in the Season. Also, the last 10 nights of the month all had a low temperature of 32 degrees or lower, which was only the 4th time on
record that the last 10 days of April had a low temperature of 32 degrees or lower, the last time being in 1960.

A total of 2.80 inches of rain (and melted snow) was observed at Caribou, which was 14 hundredths (0.14") below average. A total of 2.8 inches of snow was observed which was 4.6 inches below average. It was the least snowy April since 2010 when only 0.7" of snow was observed.

At Bangor, a total of 2.58 inches of rain was observed which was 1.04" below average.  Only a trace of snow was observed this past April, which was was 3.7 inches below average. It was the least snowy april since 2012 when only a trace of snow was observed.

At the start of the month, there was little in the way of significant snow cover south of a Dover-Foxcroft to danforth line With no snow being reported from Bangor down to the coast. The central highlands were covered with a foot or less of snow. This Increased rather quickly as you headed north into Aroostook County and the north woods. The Saint John valley and Allagash regions had The deepest snow pack where 20 to 30 inches is common. Higher amounts were likely observed across the higher terrain. By the end of the month, the only snow remaining was in parts of the north Woods. There was a total of 10" of snow observed at Allagash as of April 27th.

The second half of April was unusually dry across northern and eastern maine. In fact, at Caribou no measurable precipitation was observed from april 13th through april 30th, for a total of 18 consecutive days.  The all-time record for consecutive days with no measurable precipitation of 20 days was observed from march 1-20,
2010.  At Bangor, it was also unusually dry from April 13th through The 30th, but measurable rainfall was observed on the 19th (0.13"), and again on the 26th (0.03").

The outlook from the Climate Predication Center for May calls for an Increased likelihood of above average temperatures.  There are no strong climate signals that would point toward an unusually wet or dry month.

During the month of May temperatures undergo the largest rise of any Month of the year. The average high at caribou (bangor) climbs from 55 (60) degrees on the 1st to 67 (70) degrees by the end of the month. The average low rises from 35 (38) on the 1st to 45 (47) by the end of the month.  There is a gain of a little over an hour of usable daylight during the month of May.