The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

State Shivers in Subzero Weather

January 28, 2009 - CARIBOU -- Subzero temperatures gripped Maine on Monday as another round of bone-numbing arctic air spread into the region.

The state's coldest spots were the northern Maine town of Allagash and Big Black River, an uninhabited spot in northwest Aroostook County, both of which had temperatures of 46 below zero, according to the National Weather Service. Record lows were set in Caribou, where it was minus 33, and in Bangor, which hit 24 below zero.

The blast of frigid air comes less than two weeks after another arctic front brought subzero temperatures to the region for several days.

In that stretch, an unofficial record state low of minus 50 was recorded at Big Black River, but the reading won't become official until the equipment is double-checked to make sure the measurement was accurate.

Overnight lows were expected to range from about minus 25 in far northern area to single digits in southern Maine.

"Even minus 25 is a moderation here," said Rich Norton, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Caribou. "It's not much of an improvement, but it's going in the right direction."

All of Maine recorded subzero temperatures Monday, with Van Buren and Masardis coming in at 45 below zero, Presque Isle at minus 40 and Houlton at minus 36.

Bangor reached 25 below zero in the overnight hours, while Sanford fell to minus 15 and Portland came in at minus 2.

Temperatures are expected to moderate slowly in the next few days, with morning lows still expected to be below zero and into the single digits Wednesday.

Norton said the past two winters have been among the coldest he can recall in the 11 years he's been in northern Maine, with more prolonged cold spells. In Caribou, the temperature has hit zero or lower in 14 of the past 16 days.

"The first few winters I was here, you'd get one real arctic blast a season and it'd stick around for a couple of days, and that was it," he said.

Forecasters were also projecting a storm Wednesday that could bring moderate snow to central and southern Maine, with coastal areas expected to get the heaviest amounts.

The Associated Press January 27, 2009


Lakes:
Regions:


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News