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

January Trends: 

Caribou: 
* Snowfall was 0.5 inches below average
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.7 degrees below normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 1.9 degrees above normal 
* Around normal average temperatures 
* Precipitation was 0.6 inches below normal 

Bangor: 
* Snowfall was 8.9 inches above average 
* 10th snowiest January in Bangor! 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.6 degrees below normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.8 degrees below normal 
* Average temperatures were 1.6 degrees below normal 
* Precipitation was 1.42 inches below normal 

Millinocket: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.1 degrees below normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 2.9 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 0.4 degrees above normal 
* Precipitation was 1.39 inches below normal 

Houlton: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.5 degrees below normal 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 3.5 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 1 degree above normal 
* Precipitation was 1.53 inches below normal 

Weather Events:
* Multiple snow storms in the region during January. NWS Caribou 
  issued 2 Winter Storm Warnings: one on January 11th (northern 
  Aroostook, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties) and one January 
  25th - 27th (Central Highlands and Downeast regions). The 
  January 25th-287th storm was a significant snow event for the 
  Downeast region, with some areas seeing over a foot and a half 
  in accumulations. Highest snow total for this event was in 
  Washington County, of around 21 inches. This event broke a daily
  snowfall record for Bangor on January 26th, receiving around 
  11.7 inches of snowfall in a 24 hour period. 
* 7 Cold Weather Advisories were issued in January.
* There was 1 Extreme Cold Warning on January 24th. The coldest
  wind chill report on this day was in far northern Aroostook county, at
  -44F. Caribou recorded a daytime high of -2F, which is the
   second lowest daily max temperature for the town, just behind
   the 1961 daily max of -3. January 24th was also the second 
   coldest daytime high for Millinocket and Houlton, at 2 degrees 
   and 1 degree, respectively. This was the third coldest daytime 
   high for Bangor, at 8 degrees. 
* The consistent snowpack and snowfall in the north and Downeast 
  has had a positive impact on winter recreational activities. 
  Generally, by the end of the month, most trails for winter 
  recreation are open and passable. 

Climate Outlook: 
* Temperatures: For February, Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is
  forecasting no strong signals for above or below normal
  temperatures in eastern Maine. Portions of the Central 
  Highlands and Downeast Maine show a signal for potentially below
  normal temperatures. 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 
  until spring 2026.

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ASB