January 2017 Climate Summary for Northern and Eastern Maine

...Monthly climate narrative for northern and eastern Maine...

January 2017 finished much warmer than average with mostly above average precipitation and below average snowfall.

The region as a whole averaged 6.5 to 8.0 degrees above average with mild overnight lows being the largest contributor to the departures. Bangor,

Caribou, and Houlton had their 4th, 5th, and 8th warmest Januaries respectfully of record.

Precipitation was generally 100 to 130 percent of average with the largest contribution from the event of the 24th and 25th. The late month event produced 4.2" of sleet at Presque Isle, and was likely one of the all-time biggest sleet storms on record across northern Maine. Snowfall finished below average ranging from 25 percent of average along the Downeast coast upwards to 75 percent of average across the Saint John Valley. At Bangor, the monthly total of 6.0 inches finished as the 5th least snowiest January. This distribution of snowfall is typical of La-Nina winters.Subsequently, it should be no surprise that average monthly snow depth varied greatly from little or none along the Downeast coast upwards to 24 to 30 inches across the far north with northern areas able to build upon above average snowfall/snow depth from December. At Caribou, the average snow depth of 24.8 inches for

January was the 7th highest, while at Bangor the average of 3.1 inches was the 15th lowest.

The Climate Prediction Center outlook for February indicates that there are no strong climate signals that would point toward an unusually cold or mild February. There are also no strong climate signals that would favor an unusually wet (snowy) or dry month. On average, snowfall during the month of February ranges from around 2 feet across the Crown of Maine, with higher amounts across the higher terrain, and around 1 foot along the

Downeast coast.

Average temperatures begin a slow upward swing during the month of February.  The average highs rise from around 20 degrees at the start of the

month across the Saint John Valley to upper 20s in the greater Bangor region.  By the end of the month, average highs rise to the mid to upper 20s in the Saint John valley and to the mid 30s at Bangor.  Average lows during the month rise from near zero at the start of the month in the far north to 5 to 10 above by the end of the month.  At Bangor, average lows rise from 7 degrees on the 1st to 14 degrees by the end of the month.  There is a gain of just over an hour of available daylight during the month of February.

The all-time lowest temperature ever observed at Caribou occurred on February 1, 1955, with a low of 41 below.  At Bangor, the all-time record low of 32 below was observed on February 10, 1948.