Saturday, August 03, 2019

July 2019 Climate Summary for Northern and Eastern Maine

..July monthly climate narrative for northern and eastern Maine...

July 2019 featured above average temperatures across the region. Precipitation was more variable, and was generally below average across northern and central portions of the area and above average Down East. There was a small area of above average precipitation in far northern Maine across the central and western
Saint John Valley.

Temperatures averaged from 2 to 3.5 degrees above the 30-year average. It ranked as the 8th warmest July on record at Caribou, but was well shy of last year which was the all-time warmest July on record. In Bangor, it tied with 1975 as the 7th warmest July on record. In Millinocket it was the 6th warmest, and in Houlton it was the 16th warmest on record. July was also noticeably much more humid than June. Although it was a hot month, there were a couple of 3 to 4 day breaks in the heat and humidity, and there were 3 nights with lows in the 40s in Caribou.

In Caribou there were 3 days with a high temperature of 90 degrees or warmer. It was the most 90 degree days in Caribou during the month of July since 1989. In Bangor there were 5 days with a high of 90 or warmer, which was the most since 1997. In Millinocket, there were 4 days with a high of 90 or warmer, which tied with
last year when there were also 4 days in July with a high of 90 or warmer. Finally, in Houlton, there were 3 days with a high of 90 or warmer, which also tied with last year.

Precipitation in Caribou was only 61 percent of average, but in Bangor precipitation was 129 percent of average. This is not unusual during the summer when most of the precipitation falls in the form of showers and thunderstorms. Overall across the region, precipitation ranged from 130 to 200 percent of average Down East, with the largest positive departures along the immediate coast. Across most of northern and central areas precipitation ranged from 50 to 90 percent of normal, however, in parts of the central and western Saint John Valley, precipitation ranged from 100 to 130 percent of normal.

Total evaporation for the month measured at caribou was 6.40 inches which far exceeded monthly rainfall totals of 2.49 inches, resulting in significant drying of top soil conditions compared to the prior month.

The official Climate Prediction Center outlook for august 2019 is calling for an increased likelihood of above average temperatures. There are no strong climate signals that would point toward an unusually wet or dry month. Average temperatures begin to slowly drop during the month of august, and more so during the 2nd half of the month. Nearly an hour and a half of daylight is lost during the month of August.