890 NOUS41 KCAR 020013 PNSCAR MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-021215- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Caribou ME 813 PM EDT Tue Oct 1 2024 ...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