March 2026 Monthly Narrative for Northern and Eastern Maine

...MARCH 2026 CLIMATE NARRATIVE FOR NORTHERN/EASTERN MAINE...

March Trends: 

Caribou: 
* Snowfall was 10.1 inches below average 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 0.9 degrees above normal *March 
  10th 2026 recorded the 2nd daytime high temperature, at 54 
  degrees. It was behind the March 10th 1977 daytime high record 
  of 55 degrees. 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.4 degrees above normal
* Average temperatures were 0.6 degrees above normal  
* Precipitation was 0.96 inches above normal

Bangor: 
* Snowfall was 5.5 inches below average 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.1 degrees above normal *The 
  4th highest monthly temperature record was broken March 10th, at
  70 degrees. This temperature record follows 2012, 1998, and 
  1977. This temperature also broke the daytime high record for 
  March 10th. 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 0.9 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 1.5 degrees above normal 
* Precipitation was 0.54 inches below normal

Millinocket: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 1.7 degrees above normal *The 5th 
  highest monthly temperature record was broken March 10th, at 70 
  degrees. This temperature record follows 2012, 1946, 1945, and 
  1998. This temperature also broke the daytime high record for 
  March 10th. 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 1.8 degrees above normal 
* Average temperatures were 1.8 degrees above normal 
* Precipitation was 0.1 inches below normal 

Houlton: 
* Mean maximum temperatures were 2.5 degrees above normal *The 6th 
  highest temperature record for the month was broken March 10th, at 
  65 degrees. This follows 2012, 1962, 1979, and 1993. This 
  temperature also broke the daytime high record for March 10th. 
* Mean minimum temperatures were 2.8 degrees above normal  
* Average temperatures were 2.6 degree above normal 
* Precipitation was 0.49 inches below normal. 

Weather Events:
* There were a few snow storms in the region during March.  There 
  was 1 Winter Storm Warning on March 11th across northern Maine. 
  This was a mixed precipitation event, with snow, sleet, and 
  freezing rain reported across the region. 6 Winter Weather 
  Advisories were issued throughout the month, for some minor 
  snow/mixed precip events. 
* 1 Cold Weather Advisory issued on March 2nd. The coldest recorded 
  wind chill was -28F at Frenchville Airport.
* 1 Flood Warning for an ice jam along the Piscataquis River, 
  beginning on March 18th. Warning was replaced with a Flood 
  Advisory, that stayed up until floor waters receded March 22nd. 
  There was another Flood Advisory for Pleasant River for an ice jam 
  March 17th - 20th, and another for the Meduxnekeag River for a jam 
  March 18th. 
* Snow pack at WFO Caribou began around 11 inches at the start of 
  the month, quickly dropping down to 1-3 inches after significant 
  warm up ahead of a mixed precipitation storm. The snow pack never 
  fully recovered after this, getting back up to around 6 inches in 
  the middle of the month, and dropping back to 2-3 inches by the 
  end of the month. Similar to WFO Caribou, Bangor’s snow pack 
  started out around 9-10 inches, dropping down to 0 inches by the 
  time of the same warm up ahead of mid-month mixed precipitation 
  event. The snow pack never recovered. A few inches accumulated 
  after storms, but the month closed out with no snow on the ground. 
  Winter recreation ended in the Downeast region, and deteriorated 
  in central and northern Maine with reduced snowpack. 
* Drought remained status quo for March. Moderate drought for 
  eastern and southern Aroostook. Severe drought (D2) in western 
  Aroostook, northern Somerset, northern Piscataquis, southern 
  Penobscot, and central/southern Hancock counties. Moderate drought 
  (D1) elsewhere in northern and eastern Maine.

Climate Outlook: 
* Temperatures: For April, 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: For April, CPC is forecasting for likely above 
  normal precipitation. There is no strong signal for anomalously 
  above or below normal precipitation for the next three months 
  overall. 
* ENSO: Per CPC, transition to ENSO-neutral conditions in the
  coming month or so. 55% chance for ENSO-neutral May-July. Then, 
  El Nino has a 62% chance of developing in June-August.

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ASB