February 2026 Monthly Narrative for Northern and Eastern Maine

...February 2026 Climate Narrative for Northern/Eastern Maine...

February Trends: 

Caribou: 
* Snowfall was 15.5 inches below average 
   * This was the 11th least snowy February in Caribou 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.2 degrees above normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were around normal
* Average temperatures were 1.7 degrees above normal  
* Precipitation was 1.77 inches below normal. This was the 4th 
  driest February for Caribou on record 

Bangor: 
* Snowfall was 4.3 inches below average 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 0.8 degrees below normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 6 degrees below normal 
   * 8th coldest February mean minimum temperatures on record
* Average temperatures were 3.4 degrees below normal 
* Precipitation was 1.68 inches below normal. This was the 2nd 
  driest February for Bangor on record. Current record for driest 
  February is 1987

Millinocket: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.4 degrees above normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.6 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 1.0 degrees above normal 
* Precipitation was 1.93 inches below normal. This was the driest 
  February for Millinocket on record. It surpassed the previous 
  record in 2024 for 0.24 inches of total precipitation 

Houlton: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.3 degrees above normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.5 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 0.8 degree above normal 
* Precipitation was 1.77 inches below normal. This was the driest 
  February for Houlton on record. It surpassed the previous record 
  in 2004 for 0.38 inches of total precipitation

Weather Events:
* There were a few snow storms in the region during February.  There 
  were 2 Winter Storm Warnings in February: one for February 11th 
  (Downeast Coast and Bangor region) and one for February 23rd 
  (Downeast Coast and Bangor region). The highest total for the 
  February 11th system was 9.6 inches in Washington County. The 
  February 23rd event had a highest snowfall report of 12 inches in 
  Washington County. There was 1 Blizzard Warning on February 23rd ( 
  Downeast) High gusty winds led to significantly reduced 
  visibilities for most of the Downeast region. Neither storm broke 
  records. 
* 1 Cold Weather Advisory issued for February. The coldest recorded 
  wind chill was -27F at Escort Station in northwest Aroostook, on 
  February 6th. 
* Relatively consistent snowpack around 10-15 inches at WFO Caribou 
  and Bangor airport during February. Winter recreation stayed 
  relatively consistent, with little positive or negative impacts.
* Drought conditions persisted throughout February, due to below 
  average precipitation.  

Climate Outlook: 
* Temperatures: For March, 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: No strong signal for above or below precipitation 
  in northern and eastern Maine, for the month or season ahead.
* ENSO: La Nina will persist, and transition over to ENSO-neutral in 
  the coming month or so. ENSO neutral is expected to last through 
  summer 2026.

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ASB