Climatological Report (Monthly)
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
410
CXUS51 KCAR 020016 CCA
CLMCAR
CLIMATE REPORT...Preliminary
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
435 PM EDT TUE OCT 01 2024
...................................
...THE CARIBOU ME CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD: 1991 TO 2020
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD: 1939 TO 2024
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 92 09/01/2010
LOW 23 09/29/1980
09/22/1950
HIGHEST 86 09/18 MM MM 86 09/04
09/05
LOWEST 43 09/15 MM MM 36 09/26
09/21
AVG. MAXIMUM 70.7 67.3 3.4 71.2
AVG. MINIMUM 49.1 45.9 3.2 50.5
MEAN 59.9 56.6 3.3 60.9
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.1 -0.1 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 1.7 -1.7 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 8.81 1999
MINIMUM 0.86 1968
TOTALS 0.93 -2.51
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.11 -0.08 0.13
DAYS >= .01 5 11.5 -6.5 12
DAYS >= .10 3 6.9 -3.9 6
DAYS >= .50 1 2.1 -1.1 5
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.9 -0.9 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.59 09/26 TO 09/27 1.24 09/16 TO 09/17
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 2.5 1991
TOTALS 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0
SINCE 7/1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 MM
SNOWDEPTH AVG. 0 0
DAYS >= 1.0 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
SNOW DEPTH 0 0 MM
24 HR TOTAL MM MM
DEGREE DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 175 269 -94 163
SINCE 7/1 224 381 -157 MM
COOLING TOTAL 32 17 15 46
SINCE 1/1 399 224 175 MM
................................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 5.0
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 17/180 DATE 09/01
17/300 09/03
17/160 09/26
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 28/300 DATE 09/03
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.39
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 16
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 7
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 7
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 73
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 3 RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 8 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 7 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 3
HAZE 0
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
* INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
&&
...Northern and Eastern Maine September 2024 Climate Narrative...
September 2024 was significantly warmer and much drier than
average across all of Northern and Eastern Maine.
Temperatures across the region ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 degrees
above normal over Downeast areas upwards to 2.5 to 3.5 degrees
above normal over Central/Northern areas. This made September
2024 the 5th warmest on record for Caribou and Millinocket and
6th warmest at Houlton. The month began on a relatively cool note
through the first 11 days, but then dramatically warmed mid month
especially the 16th-19th with most low terrain locations inland
from the immediate coast well into the 80s. Temperatures returned
closer to normal for the remainder of the month. Coolest morning
lows reached mid to upper 30s at a few of the cooler northern
valley sites on the 4th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 24th, and 25th with no
documented freezes or widespread killing frosts.
At the conclusion of September, the total 2024 warm season tally
of 80+ degree high temperature days amongst the climate sites
ranged from 46 at Houlton upwards to 57 at Millinocket. The total
of 49 at Caribou was the 4th greatest, while 57 at Millinocket was
7th greatest, and 46 at Houlton was the 12th greatest. The total
of 56 at Bangor did not make the top 15, with the greatest number
80+ degree high temperature days there being 87, recorded in the
dust bowl warm season years of 1930 and 1937.
Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the month was how dry it was
across the region, with only 25 to 35 percent of normal September
rainfall recorded except locally upwards to 50 to 60 percent of
normal over the far northwest. Blocking upper level high pressure
prevailing especially mid to late month mostly prevented moisture
laden low pressure and frontal systems from affecting the area.
The exception was the system on the 26th which resulted from 0.50
to 1.00 inch of rainfall at the climate sites and upwards to 2.00
inches over the far northwest, preventing September 2024 being the
driest of record. Even so, it was the 2nd driest of record at
Caribou, with only the 0.83 inch total of 1968 slimly drier. At
Millinocket and Houlton it was 4th driest (with Houlton tying
September 2016) and 13th driest at Bangor.
Evaporation, as measured at Caribou, far exceeded rainfall this
month with the rainfall/evaporation deficit resulting in lawns
turning brown by late in the month over Central and Downeast
areas and shallow water well levels with as low as 15th
percentile ground water levels. Other impacts include much
diminished stream and river flows to below to much below normal
across all of the region. By end of the month, the Drought Monitor
rated Northeast and Central areas as abnormally dry with moderate
drought rated over some Downeast areas.
The Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for the month of
October is calling for somewhat greater odds of above normal
over near or below normal temperatures and equal chances of below,
near normal, or above normal precipitation. Average temperature
range from lows/highs of mid to upper 30s/mid 50s across the North
to upper 30s to around 40/around 60 across Downeast areas. Average
total precipitation ranges from 3.50 inches over the Northeast
upwards to 4.50 inches over Central/Downeast areas. Accumulating
snowfall is observed upwards to half of all Octobers across low
terrain locations across the north where the average is 1 to 2
inches with lesser amounts and frequency over low terrain Central
locations to only a trace over Downeast areas. Significant
snowfall in October is most likely over very high terrain of the
Northwest and Central mountains of the region.
$$
VJN/JS/CB/NC