On three or four of those days, the snowpack builds up to over twenty inches. Megalodon tooth necklace spotted in digital scan of Titanic Clearing your car of Winter's ice missiles, Surviving a power outage during a snowstorm. Average annual snowfall in Maine is 50 to 70 inches in the Coastal Division, 60 to 90 inches in the Southern Interior and 90 to 110 inches in the Northern Interior. Sea level rise has caused an increase in tidal floods associated with nuisance-level impacts. Nuisance flooding events in Maine are likely to occur more frequently as global and local sea levels continue to rise. The thin dotted lines are the corresponding average perceived temperatures. 17, 2021. Precipitation levels also tend to be higher than average throughout the year. Maine Lakes. Over half of winter days in Portland have at least an inch of snow on the ground. Thieler, and C. Zervas, 2017: Global and Regional Unlike temperature, which typically varies significantly between night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is typically followed by a muggy night. Snow! Manage Settings Maines climate is characterized by cold, snowy winters and mild summers. A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. Central Maine The latest sunset is 7:16 PM on September 1 and the earliest sunset is 3 hours, 11 minutes earlier at 4:05 PM on November 30. The two-day cumulative snow record covered the period from February 10th, 2013 toFebruary 12th, 2013.aria-label=Most snow in three days role=img> The thin dotted lines are the corresponding average perceived temperatures. Changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation have caused temporary, destructive increases in sea level, such as the 5-inch rise along the Maine coast in 2010. If youre planning a visit to Portland, Maine, its good to know when the snowiest time of year is. Heavy, wet snow piled up across Maine and New Hampshire on Monday. One of the main reasons why Portland, Maine receives so much snow is its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Total snowfall measured 15 inches in December, less than the 10-year average of 32 inches for the month, said Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin. Many of the citys parks and outdoor spaces transform into ice rinks and sledding hills. Over the course of the fall in Portland, the length of the day is very rapidly decreasing. NOAA NCEI, n.d.: Climate at a Glance: and N. Dhakal, 2014: Climate Highlights: Extreme Precipitation and Population: Even in Rangeley, often the go-to spot for snowmobilers, Matt Kennedy of the Rangeley Lake Snowmobile Club reports that trails are not yet open. The daily average high (red line) and low (blue line) temperature, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. She appreciated the warmer December because it allowed her to get her little one outside to play. The average of mean hourly wind speeds (dark gray line), with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. Portland, Maine experiences a significant amount of snow each year, which is not uncommon for cities located in the Northeast US. The growing season has also lengthened. Theres tremendous instability in the way the weather system operates., It used to be that once Maines winter began, it would stay cold, Mayewski said. The average accumulated growing degree days in Portland are rapidly increasing during the fall, increasing by 462F, from 1,779F to 2,241F, over the course of the season. Plus there's information on when Portland can expect the first and last snowfalls of the season. For reference, on June 21, the longest day of the year, the Sun rises at 4:59 AM and sets 15 hours, 27 minutes later, at 8:26 PM, while on December 22, the shortest day of the year, it rises at 7:11 AM and sets 8 hours, 56 minutes later, at 4:07 PM. Overall, Portland, Maine is a city that experiences a significant amount of snowfall during the winter months. Sallenger, and J. Weiss, 2012: Global Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United For reference, on February 20, the windiest day of the year, the daily average wind speed is 10.2 miles per hour, while on July 31, the calmest day of the year, the daily average wind speed is 5.3 miles per hour. During the snowiest time of the year, Portland, Maine comes alive with winter sports activities for visitors to enjoy. Total annual precipitation in Maine reached a historically high multiyear average during the 20052009 period (Figure 2d). Maine is part of a large area in the higher mid-latitudes that is projected to see increases in winter (Figure 5) and spring precipitation. However, the citys residents and local businesses are well equipped to handle the winter weather with snow plows and sand trucks on standby. Geva, Turkey (5,416 miles away) is the far-away foreign place with temperatures most similar to Portland (view comparison). We have not had many days in the single digits., A sign warns of thin ice at Deering Oaks Park in Portland. JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec024682.8"2.8"3.9"3.9"4.3"4.3"4.5"4.5"4.7"4.7"4.8"4.8"4.3"4.3"3.7"3.7"4.5"4.5"5.6"5.6"4.5"4.5"4.3"4.3". the Press Secretary, Washington, DC. Snowmobiling is suffering with trails closed due to a lack of snow. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Research, Climate Program Office, Silver Spring, MD, 33 pp. Maine enjoys a healthy, invigorating climate with four distinct seasons. 4) Are there any winter sports or activities to enjoy in Portland, Maine during the snow season? Horton, E.R. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid. These averages don't show how much the snowfall in Portland varies from year to year. States Hurricane Impacts/Landfalls 18512019. precipitation in : January, : February, . 22.3in. JAN/ 19.2 FEB/ 12.0 MAR/ 12.7 APR/ 2.8 MAY/ 0.0 JUNE/ 0.0 JULY/ 0.0 AUG/ 0.0 SEPT/ 0.0 OCT/ 0.0 The month with the lowest relative humidity is November (74%). The growing season in Portland typically lasts for 5.7 months (173 days), from around April 25 to around October 15, rarely starting before April 8 or after May 11, and rarely ending before September 29 or after November 1. The driest month (with the least rainfall) is September (1.18"). His Rangeley trails opened in December, then it rained at Christmas and got to 50 degrees. The daily average water temperature (purple line), with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. Winter Weather in Portland Maine, United States. Morning Sports Update 'The ceiling is high': Red Sox promote top prospect Marcelo Mayer to Double-A Portland Mayer, selected fourth overall in 2021, was the team's highest draft pick since 1967. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, The highest average 31-day accumulation is 14.7 inches on . In conclusion, while Portland, Maine experiences a significant amount of snow each year, its average snowfall is relatively average when compared to other cities in the Northeast region. The average annual snowfall in Portland, Maine is around 66 inches or 168 centimeters. Growing degree days are a measure of yearly heat accumulation used to predict plant and animal development, and defined as the integral of warmth above a base temperature, discarding any excess above a maximum temperature. Sign up and we'll help you stay connected to Vacationland by sending our twice-a-month newsletter to your inbox. The average sliding 31-day snowfall during November in Portland is very rapidly increasing, starting the month at 1.0 inches, when it rarely exceeds 5.1 inches or falls below -0.0 inches, and ending the month at 6.2 inches, when it rarely exceeds 15.9 inches or falls below 0.2 inches. Rangeley winters used to get 2 to 6 inches of snow every day, Kennedy said, and a lack of snow really hurts., At Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabasset Valley, there hasnt been much natural snow. Greatest Amount of Snow in One Day, 31.9in. of Science (MS), Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine. Solar elevation and azimuth in the the fall of 2023. The region is furthest from the ocean and contains the highest elevations. 2023 Maine Tourism Association. The vertical gray bars (new Moons) and blue bars (full Moons) indicate key Moon phases. This helps to create a sense of community and support system during snowstorms. They were asking, Where is the ice safe? The average daily incident shortwave solar energy in Portland is increasing during the winter, rising by 1.5 kWh, from 1.7 kWh to 3.1 kWh, over the course of the season. Names, locations, and time zones of places and some airports come from the GeoNames Geographical Database . I love the winter, but when the cold temperatures last for so long, its tricky as a parent, she said. For the purposes of this report, the geographical coordinates of Portland are 43.661 deg latitude, -70.255 deg longitude, and 59 ft elevation. But major blizzards that dump ten inches or more in one day don't happen each year. The months with the least snowfall days are May, June, July, August and September (0 days). The best month for swimming (with the highest average sea temperature) is August (63.7F). The percentage of time spent in each cloud cover band, categorized by the percentage of the sky covered by clouds. This website contains copyrighted images. Passing clouds. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Heres why. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The month with the highest number of rainy days is July (14.7 days). So far we have 15 inches, Stickney said. The calmest months (with the lowest average wind speed) are July and August (7.5mph). The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Temperatures were up and snowfall was down in December for much the state. It was the same way last year.. (Photo by Derek Davis/Staff Photographer). On Damariscotta Lake, the average ice-out date during the mid-20th century was mid- to late April; it is now early April. The city also has numerous festivals and celebrations during the winter months, including the Portland Winter Light Festival and the Portland Harbor Hotels Ice Bar. Under a higher emissions pathway, historically unprecedented warming is projected during this century. The solar day in the winter. National National Centers for Environmental Information, Asheville, NC, accessed March NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Easterling, K.E. Daily high temperatures decrease by 5F, from 42F to 37F, rarely falling below 19F or exceeding 53F. Observed wind speeds from noreasters are commonly equal to or greater than those from hurricanes that have reached Maine. The average rainfall (solid line) accumulated over the course of a sliding 31-day period centered on the day in question, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. While having the tremendous advantages of temporal and spatial completeness, these reconstructions: (1) are based on computer models that may have model-based errors, (2) are coarsely sampled on a 50 km grid and are therefore unable to reconstruct the local variations of many microclimates, and (3) have particular difficulty with the weather in some coastal areas, especially small islands. One of the most popular winter activities in Portland is skiing and snowboarding. Within 50 miles contains significant variations in elevation (2,339 feet). The thin dotted line is the corresponding average rainfall. The wettest month (with the highest rainfall) is October (2.36"). The months with the highest relative humidity are June and July (82%). The month with the least cloud cover is August (Cloud cover 29). States National Climate Assessment. Goddard, P.B., J. Yin, S.M. LeGrande, and M.F. Elevation data comes from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) , published by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But thankfully, after 20+ years of living in Portland, I've learned a trick or two about surviving winter in Portland. The two-day cumulative snow record covered the period from February 9th, 2013 toFebruary 10th, 2013. aria-label=Most snow in two days role=img> All data relating to the Sun's position (e.g., sunrise and sunset) are computed using astronomical formulas from the book, Astronomical Algorithms 2nd Edition , by Jean Meeus. Many people who live in Portland enjoy the snow season. 2016. All other weather data, including cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and direction, and solar flux, come from NASA's MERRA-2 Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis . The highest daily average wind speed during the winter is 10.2 miles per hour on February 21. Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States. Please review our full terms contained on our Terms of Service page. Jan. 1 is the traditional opening of ice fishing, he said. For municipal workers, overtime. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Our good air quality and moderate temperatures make Maine a four-season vacation destination. The average sliding 31-day snowfall during January in Portland is gradually decreasing, starting the month at 14.3 inches, when it rarely exceeds 27.5 inches or falls below 3.7 inches, and ending the month at 13.6 inches, when it rarely exceeds 26.4 inches or falls below 3.1 inches. Climate Change Means for Maine and the Northeast. For reference, on May 17, the cloudiest day of the year, the chance of overcast or mostly cloudy conditions is 57%, while on September 2, the clearest day of the year, the chance of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies is 64%. Over the course of the winter in Portland, the length of the day is rapidly increasing. Climate Change in New England, 18502000. . The average surface water temperature in Portland is rapidly decreasing during the winter, falling by 9F, from 47F to 38F, over the course of the season. The percentage of time spent in each cloud cover band, categorized by the percentage of the sky covered by clouds. Precipitation is projected to increase. Download. We further caution that our travel scores are only as good as the data that underpin them, that weather conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable, and that the definition of the scores reflects a particular set of preferences that may not agree with those of any particular reader. For a given day and hour of that day, the background color indicates the azimuth of the sun at that moment. The lowest daily average low temperature is 16F on January 30. They often check on each other, offer assistance with clearing snow, and make sure everyone is safe and warm. For reference, on June 21, the longest day of the year, the Sun rises at 4:59 AM and sets 15 hours, 27 minutes later, at 8:26 PM, while on December 22, the shortest day of the year, it rises at 7:11 AM and sets 8 hours, 56 minutes later, at 4:07 PM. Annual precipitation in Maine averages 40 inches in the Northern Division, about 42 inches in the South and 46 inches in the Coastal Division. Weaver, J. The average annual snowfall in Portland, Maine is around 66 inches or 168 centimeters. The average snowfall (solid line) accumulated over the course of a sliding 31-day period centered on the day in question, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. The intensity of cold waves is projected to decrease, while heat waves are projected to increase in intensity, potentially raising the importance of such events in this normally moderate summer climate. Therefore, while Portlands snowfall amount is still significant, it is not among the highest in the region. However, not all winter seasons are the same. If youre planning a visit to Portland during the winter, be sure to pack warm clothing and get ready to experience the beauty of a snow-covered city. Maine DACF, 2021: Ice Out Dates for Maine has also been experiencing more short-term dry periods, with extreme drought occurring in 2002, 2016, and 2020. Unlike temperature, which typically varies significantly between night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is typically followed by a muggy night. We assume no responsibility for any decisions made on the basis of the content presented on this site. The percentage of possible sunshine varies from 50% in Eastport to about 60% in Portland. The winter in Portland is reliably fully outside of the growing season. We had frost this fall later than normal. The average growing degree days accumulated over the course of the fall, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. . Yohe, Eds., 2014: NOAA HRD, 2014: Continental United Portland is located near a large body of water (e.g., ocean, sea, or large lake). In Portland during fall average daily high temperatures decrease from 74F to 42F and the fraction of time spent overcast or mostly cloudy increases from 36% to 51%. Since 2007, weather-related disasters have been declared in every county in Maine. Already have a commenting profile? This report illustrates the typical weather for Portland, Bangor, and Caribou year round, based on a statistical analysis of historical hourly weather reports and model reconstructions from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2016. . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Portland: 48.1: 1222: 136: Tenants Harbor: 47.6: 1209: Central Maine. The percentage of time spent in various temperature bands. . This current helps to moderate temperatures and prevent extreme weather events, which can reduce the amount of snowfall in coastal cities like Portland. 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