October 2025 Monthly Narrative for Northern and Eastern Maine

...October 2025 Climate Narrative for Northern and Eastern 
Maine...

The October 2025 season, overall, was above climatological normal 
for daily maximum, minimum, and average temperatures. Precipitation 
totals for northern and eastern Maine were below average throughout 
the month. Drought conditions continued, and deteriorated, 
throughout the state during October, impacting agriculture and 
drying up wells throughout the state.

Similar to September, precipitation and drought were the primary 
weather concerns for October. All climate sites recorded below 
average precipitation. Bangor had the largest deficit, receiving 
only 2.69 inches of precipitation, which is 1.89 inches below 
climatological normal for October. Houlton received 3.24 inches of 
rain, and Caribou received 3.26 inches, each recording 0.8 and 0.73 
inch deficits, respectively. Millinocket recorded 3.94 inches of 
precipitation, which is a 0.61 inch precipitation deficit. There 
were some wetting rain storms that moved through northern and 
eastern Maine, but as shown by the above deficits, none resulted in 
drought relief.

At the beginning of October, northern Maine, including northern 
Aroostook, northern Penobscot, northern Piscataquis, and northern 
Somerset, were abnormally dry. Southern Aroostook, central 
Penobscot, and central Piscataquis experienced moderate drought. 
Northern Washington, northern Hancock, central and southern 
Penobscot, southern Piscataquis were in severe drought. Coastal 
Washington and Hancock counties were in extreme drought. Conditions 
worsened by the end of the month, given prolonged precipitation 
deficits. Portions of northern Somerset, northwestern Aroostook, 
central Aroostook and northern Penobscot, upgraded to moderate 
drought. Central and southern Aroostook, northern and central 
Penobscot, Piscataquis, and portions of northern Somerset all 
became, or maintained, severe drought. No significant severe weather 
occurred in October.

Temperatures were above normal at all climate sites, with average 
temperatures generally 2-5 degrees above climatological normal. 
Monthly maximum temperatures were significantly above average for 
October, generally 3-5 degrees above climatological normal. 
Caribou’s average high temperatures were the warmest this month, 
being 4.9 degrees above normal. Millinocket was a close second, 
being 4.7 degrees above climatological normal. Houlton daily high 
temperatures were 4.5 degrees above climatological normal. Bangor 
was 3 degrees above normal.

Caribou broke its all-time high temperature record for the month of 
October, 83 degrees, during a heat event on October 6th. During this 
same event, Millinocket reached 85, and Houlton reached 84 degrees, 
both of which also broke previous all-time high monthly records. 
Bangor recorded 84 degrees, which was the second highest temperature 
record, right behind a 86 degree record in 1968. The past 5 years 
have been within the top 10 warmest Octobers, with records dating 
back to 1953.

Monthly minimum temperatures were generally 1-2 degrees above 
climatological normal. Millinocket had the largest deviation, being 
2 degrees above normal. Caribou low temperatures were 1.9 degrees 
above normal. Bangor minimum temperatures were generally 1.4 degrees 
above normal. Lastly, Houlton had minimum temperature values roughly 
1.3 degrees above climatological normal.

For the month ahead, Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is showing a 
likely probability of above normal temperatures for the entire state 
of Maine, alongside a chance for some above normal precipitation. 
For the next three months, there is a chance for above normal 
temperatures in Maine. There is, however, no strong signal for 
precipitation outlooks for the upcoming season at this time.

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ASB