CXUS51 KCAR 041715 CLMBGR CLIMATE REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 1204 PM EST SUN JAN 04 2026 ................................... ...THE BANGOR ME CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2025... CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD: 1991 TO 2020 CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD: 1925 TO 2026 WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR'S VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S) NORMAL ................................................................ TEMPERATURE (F) RECORD HIGH 65 12/07/1998 12/04/1982 LOW -27 12/16/1943 HIGHEST 57 12/19 MM MM 59 12/11 12/12 LOWEST -14 12/09 MM MM -4 12/27 AVG. MAXIMUM 29.2 34.5 -5.3 35.1 AVG. MINIMUM 9.9 17.3 -7.4 16.9 MEAN 19.6 25.9 -6.3 26.0 DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0 DAYS MAX <= 32 20 12.9 7.1 15 DAYS MIN <= 32 30 28.7 1.3 28 DAYS MIN <= 0 7 2.3 4.7 2 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 10.14 1969 MINIMUM 0.93 1955 TOTALS 3.61 -0.11 DAILY AVG. 0.12 0.12 0.00 0.17 DAYS >= .01 13 12.6 0.4 14 DAYS >= .10 6 7.8 -1.8 9 DAYS >= .50 3 2.5 0.5 4 DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.7 0.3 1 GREATEST 24 HR. TOTAL 1.46 12/29 TO 12/30 2.64 12/11 TO 12/12 SNOWFALL (INCHES) RECORDS TOTAL 50.9 1927 TOTALS 19.8 14.7 5.1 12.6 SINCE 7/1 20.4 19.6 0.8 MM SNOWDEPTH AVG. 4 2 DAYS >= 1.0 7 4.4 2.6 3 GREATEST SNOW DEPTH 8 12/26 6 12/10 12/27 12/28 12/11 24 HR TOTAL MM MM DEGREE DAYS HEATING TOTAL 1402 1212 190 1202 SINCE 7/1 2879 2794 85 MM COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0 SINCE 1/1 393 379 14 MM ................................................................ WIND (MPH) AVERAGE WIND SPEED 7.6 HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 43/180 DATE 12/19 HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 66/160 DATE 12/19 SKY COVER POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.59 NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 9 NUMBER OF DAYS PC 11 NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 11 AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 69 WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0 HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 2 LIGHT RAIN 6 FREEZING RAIN 0 LT FREEZING RAIN 2 HAIL 0 HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 4 LIGHT SNOW 16 SLEET 2 FOG 14 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 1 HAZE 3 - INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS. * INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED. MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING. T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT. ................................................................ ...DECEMBER 2025 CLIMATE NARRATIVE FOR NORTHERN/EASTERN MAINE... The December 2025 season was below climatological normal for daily maximum, minimum, and average daily temperatures. Around, to slightly below, average precipitation fell at all climate sites. In terms of snowfall, however, there was more snow than normal at Bangor, but below normal snowfall for Caribou. Drought conditions persisted, as frost depth continued to increase this month. That being said, portions of Washington county did have some drought conditions improve by the end of the month. Persistent drought continued into December in northern and central Maine. The ground was frozen the entire month in northern counties, continuing to restrict any moisture from penetrating down into the soil. Frost depth at the beginning of December was 2 inches at the Caribou office, gradually diminishing down to a low depth of 1 inch during a warm up period around December 19th, but rounded the month out to a frost depth of 12 inches. All climate sites recorded around, or slightly below, average precipitation. Houlton had the largest deficit, receiving only 2.56 inches of precipitation, which is 0.81 inches below climatological normal for December. Caribou received 2.88 inches of precipitation, which is 0.72 inches below normal. Bangor and Millinocket were close to average, with Bangor receiving 3.61 inches of precipitation, and Millinocket receiving 3.41 inches of precipitation, a 0.11 and 0.04 inch deficit respectively. At the end of November, northern Somerset, northwestern and central Aroostook, northern Piscataquis, southern Penobscot, and portions of Hancock and Washington counties, were included in severe drought. The Central Highlands region, southern Aroostook, and portions of far northern Hancock and Washington counties were in moderate drought. There was some slight improvement by the end of the month for Washington county, as Downeast ground remained unfrozen, and snow/rainfall events at the end of the month provided some moisture, resulting in the county improving from severe drought to moderate drought. Otherwise, the rest of the state was left in the status quo. In terms of rivers, all rivers in the region saw river ice rapidly thicken. Southern rivers had a brief period of ice break up during the mid-December warm up event, but quickly refroze later in the month as temperatures fell below freezing once again. In terms of snowfall, Bangor had an above average December, recording 19.8 inches of snow, which is 5.1 inches above normal for December. Caribou only received 24.0 inches of snow, which is roughly 1.2 inches below average for December. There were multiple snowstorms in December throughout northern and eastern Maine as well, adding enough snow to provide a snow pack deep enough to begin the ski and snowmobiling season, primarily in the north and central region. One such snowstorm event occurred December 2nd, dropping 2-4 inches of snow in the north, and 7-9 inches of snow in northern/central Washington county. On December 10th - 11th, 8-10 inches of snow fell in eastern Aroostook, 6-8 inches in the rest of the northern region, and 1-3 inches Downeast. Two snow squalls were observed on December 21st, one in Piscataquis county, and the other in Aroostook county, both of which significantly reduced visibility and significant wind gusts. December 23-24th, another snow storm produced roughly 6-9 inches of snow in southern Piscataquis, western Penobscot, and western Hancock counties. Lastly, a nasty mixed precipitation event rounded out the end of 2025, dumping about 7-10 inches of snow in the Crown of Maine and North Woods regions, along with around 4 inches in the north. Areas got up to an inch of sleet in the north, as well as ½ an inch of freezing rain ice accumulation. This storm led to poor road conditions and multiple car accidents. At the end of the month, Bangor ended up recording a 4 inch snow depth, and Caribou a 6 inch snow depth. Another significant weather event that occurred in December, was a high wind event that resulted in multiple power outages, downed trees, and road closures, primarily in Downeast Maine. Highest wind gusts were in Penobscot county, with a 67 mph gusts recorded in Millinocket. Temperatures were well below normal at all climate sites, with average temperatures generally 5 to 7 degrees below climatological normal. Monthly maximum temperatures were below average for December, generally 5.0 degrees below climatological normal. Bangor had the coldest daytime highs, 5.3 degrees below normal. Millinocket average high temperatures were 5.0 degrees below normal. Caribou was 4.9 degrees below normal. Lastly, Houlton daily high temperatures were 4.8 degrees below climatological normal. The warmest day was December 19th, which broke multiple records for the daytime high in Bangor, Millinocket, and Houlton, with temperatures rising into the mid-50s ahead of a warm front. Monthly minimum temperatures were generally 6 to 7 degrees below climatological normal for all climate sites. Bangor and Houlton had the coldest overnight lows, both being 7.4 degrees below normal. Caribou had minimum temperature values roughly 6.3 degrees below climatological normal. Millinocket low temperatures were 5.9 degrees below normal. There was a significant cold spell December 4th-5th, with wind chill values reaching down into the -25 to -30 range in northern Aroostook county. Values -15 to -20 were recorded Downeast. This December was the coldest December for all four climate sites since 2017. For the month ahead, Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is showing a probability of below normal temperatures for the entire state of Maine. There is no strong signal for precipitation. For the next three months, there is no strong signal for above or below normal temperatures or precipitation in Maine. CPC currently has a La Nina Advisory issued, where the United States can expect La Nina conditions to persist, before transitioning to ENSO-neutral in early 2026. $$ ASB