...MARCH 2026 CLIMATE NARRATIVE FOR NORTHERN/EASTERN MAINE...
March Trends:
Caribou:
* Snowfall was 10.1 inches below average
* Mean maximum temperatures were 0.9 degrees above normal *March
10th 2026 recorded the 2nd daytime high temperature, at 54
degrees. It was behind the March 10th 1977 daytime high record
of 55 degrees.
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.4 degrees above normal
* Average temperatures were 0.6 degrees above normal
* Precipitation was 0.96 inches above normal
Bangor:
* Snowfall was 5.5 inches below average
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.1 degrees above normal *The
4th highest monthly temperature record was broken March 10th, at
70 degrees. This temperature record follows 2012, 1998, and
1977. This temperature also broke the daytime high record for
March 10th.
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.9 degrees above normal
* Average temperatures were 1.5 degrees above normal
* Precipitation was 0.54 inches below normal
Millinocket:
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.7 degrees above normal *The 5th
highest monthly temperature record was broken March 10th, at 70
degrees. This temperature record follows 2012, 1946, 1945, and
1998. This temperature also broke the daytime high record for
March 10th.
* Mean minimum temperatures were 1.8 degrees above normal
* Average temperatures were 1.8 degrees above normal
* Precipitation was 0.1 inches below normal
Houlton:
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.5 degrees above normal *The 6th
highest temperature record for the month was broken March 10th, at
65 degrees. This follows 2012, 1962, 1979, and 1993. This
temperature also broke the daytime high record for March 10th.
* Mean minimum temperatures were 2.8 degrees above normal
* Average temperatures were 2.6 degree above normal
* Precipitation was 0.49 inches below normal.
Weather Events:
* There were a few snow storms in the region during March. There
was 1 Winter Storm Warning on March 11th across northern Maine.
This was a mixed precipitation event, with snow, sleet, and
freezing rain reported across the region. 6 Winter Weather
Advisories were issued throughout the month, for some minor
snow/mixed precip events.
* 1 Cold Weather Advisory issued on March 2nd. The coldest recorded
wind chill was -28F at Frenchville Airport.
* 1 Flood Warning for an ice jam along the Piscataquis River,
beginning on March 18th. Warning was replaced with a Flood
Advisory, that stayed up until floor waters receded March 22nd.
There was another Flood Advisory for Pleasant River for an ice jam
March 17th - 20th, and another for the Meduxnekeag River for a jam
March 18th.
* Snow pack at WFO Caribou began around 11 inches at the start of
the month, quickly dropping down to 1-3 inches after significant
warm up ahead of a mixed precipitation storm. The snow pack never
fully recovered after this, getting back up to around 6 inches in
the middle of the month, and dropping back to 2-3 inches by the
end of the month. Similar to WFO Caribou, Bangor’s snow pack
started out around 9-10 inches, dropping down to 0 inches by the
time of the same warm up ahead of mid-month mixed precipitation
event. The snow pack never recovered. A few inches accumulated
after storms, but the month closed out with no snow on the ground.
Winter recreation ended in the Downeast region, and deteriorated
in central and northern Maine with reduced snowpack.
* Drought remained status quo for March. Moderate drought for
eastern and southern Aroostook. Severe drought (D2) in western
Aroostook, northern Somerset, northern Piscataquis, southern
Penobscot, and central/southern Hancock counties. Moderate drought
(D1) elsewhere in northern and eastern Maine.
Climate Outlook:
* Temperatures: For April, Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is
forecasting no strong signals for above normal temperatures in
northern and eastern Maine. For the season ahead, no strong signal
for temperatures to be anomalously above or below normal.
* Precipitation: For April, CPC is forecasting for likely above
normal precipitation. There is no strong signal for anomalously
above or below normal precipitation for the next three months
overall.
* ENSO: Per CPC, transition to ENSO-neutral conditions in the
coming month or so. 55% chance for ENSO-neutral May-July. Then,
El Nino has a 62% chance of developing in June-August.
$$
ASB
