...SEPTEMBER 2026 CLIMATE NARRATIVE FOR NORTHERN/EASTERN MAINE...
Month Trends:
Caribou:
- Mean maximum temperatures were 1.0 degree below average.
- Mean minimum temperatures were 2.2 degrees below average. A
record low temperature was tied on September 9th, at 34 degrees.
It tied with 1946.
- Average temperatures were 1.6 degrees below average.
- Precipitation was 2.14 inches below average. This is the 5th
driest September for Caribou on record, with 1.30 inches.
- Snowfall was 0.1 inch below average for September. Believe it
or not, Caribou typically gets 0.1 inches of snowfall.
Bangor:
- Mean maximum temperatures were 0.8 degrees below average.
- Mean minimum temperatures were around 0.8 degrees below
average.
- Average temperatures were around 0.8 degrees below average.
- Precipitation was 1.38 inches above average. On September 28th,
2.17 inches of rainfall fell due to a Nor’easter storm.
Millinocket:
- Mean maximum temperatures were 1.2 degrees below average.
- Mean minimum temperatures were around normal.
- Average temperatures were 0.5 degrees below average.
- Precipitation was 1.13 inches below average.
Houlton:
- Mean maximum temperatures were 0.8 degrees below average
- Mean minimum temperatures were 2.4 degrees below average
- Average temperatures were 1.6 degrees below average
- Precipitation was 1.81 inches below average. This is the 11th
driest September on record for Houlton.
Weather Events:
- Frost/freeze program began in May, with northern zones ending
in September. The program ended on September 11th in the North
Woods. It then ended in eastern/southern Aroostook,
northern/central Penobscot, southern Piscataquis, and northern
Washington on September 21st. 4 frost advisories were issued in
September.
- Of the 4 climate sites, Houlton recorded the lowest
temperature in September at 28 degrees on the 23rd.
- Of the 4 climate sites, Bangor recorded the highest
temperature in September at 82 degrees on the 10th.
- A significant Nor’easter storm moved through New England at the
end of September. Interior and coastal Downeast regions got the
highest rain totals in northern and eastern Maine. Per Caribou
Public Information Statement, the highest total recorded by the
afternoon of September 28th, was roughly 2.92 inches falling in
Milbridge, ME.
- The ongoing drought deteriorated throughout September. By
September 1st, severe drought (D2) was in western Hancock county,
and up to southern Penobscot. Moderate drought (D1) expanded
farther north, into most of northern Penobscot, northern
Piscataquis, and most of Aroostook county. There were pockets of
abnormally dry (D0) conditions in northern/eastern Aroostook,
and parts of southern Washington counties. By September 15th, the
entire state was, at minimum, in moderate drought (D1).
Southern/western Penobscot and Hancock were in severe drought
(D2). Far coastal Hancock deteriorated to extreme drought (D3).
The state maintained these conditions through the end of the
month.
Climate Outlook:
- Temperatures: For October, Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
does not see strong signals for anomalous temperatures. For the
season ahead, the outlook shows temperatures could lean above
climatological normal.
- Precipitation: For October, CPC does not see strong signals
for anomalous precipitation. For the season ahead, outlook also
does not see strong signals for anomalous precipitation.
- ENSO: Per CPC, El Nino conditions are present, with an El Nino
Advisory in effect. El Nino has a 90% chance of becoming a very
strong event in the northern hemisphere 2026-2027 fall/winter.
$$
ASB
