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For the second summer in a row, the greatest rainfall deficits were experienced across Downeast areas.  Unlike last summer, however, the mean upper jet stream pattern has allowed several episodes of heat and humidity mainly during the months of June and August. In particular, this allowed interior Downeast areas to experience the greatest number of 90 degree + days during the summer of 2001 since the summer of 1935, with the first 90 degree +

days arriving as early as the opening days of May at some locations.


The following Table illustrates the differences in the number of 80 degree + and 90 degree + days between the summers of 2001 and 2000.


Table 3 (Total Number of 80 Degree + and 90 Degree + Days)


                           Caribou                                                                                      Bangor

              80+ Days         90+ Days                                                       80+ Days        90+ Days
2001        36 (+11)          3 (+1)                                                           54 (+16)          15 (+10)
2000        13 (-12)           0 (-2)                                                            25 (-13)            1   (-4)

Winter Outlook


The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is forecasting at, to just below,  normal temperatures for Northern and Downeast Maine for the December 2001 - February 2002 (meteorological winter) period, and near normal precipitation. The following table lists normal (based on the 1961-1990 period) winter monthly temperatures and total seasonal snowfall for Caribou and Bangor:

Table 4 (Average Monthly Temperatures and Total Seasonal Snowfall)

                         Dec                            Jan                         Feb                  Snowfall
                   Hi        Low                Hi       Low             Hi       Low           (Inches)
Caribou     24.0        5.5               19.0     -1.6              23.0      0.7              115.6
Bangor      31.3       14.8               26.7       8.2             29.4    10.1                78.0

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