National Climatic Data Center, 13 February 2003

As noted by the Maine State Climatologist (Dr. Greg Zielinski):

Drought conditions in Maine worsened this month as preliminary data indicated that January 2003 was the third driest January on record.

The very cold conditions produced by the prevalence of northwest airflow within the trough that dominated the eastern United States kept any significant storms well south of Maine. The only substantial precipitation in the state came from a large coastal storm on the 4th of the month, prior to the time when the trough became entrenched in the East. That storm produced over one-half of an inch of precipitation (water equivalent), primarily in certain coastal and central interior sections of the state. Unfortunately, the northern part of Maine, which was the area under moderate or abnormally dry conditions, failed to receive much if any precipitation from that storm. Caribou unofficially received only 0.69 inches of precipitation for the month, whereas Bangor received 0.94 inches and Portland received 1.14 inches. The 0.34 inches measured in Augusta unofficially is the driest January on record.

The only reason more of the state did not progress into drought conditions by the end of January was the close-to or above average precipitation received during the later parts of 2002. As a result, long-term dry conditions existed only in northern and western parts of the state at the end of January.

For a summary of Maine's climate for January go to the Maine State Climate Office home page at www.umaine.edu/maineclimate and click on the Newsletter link. Archived newsletters are available, as is a sign-up section to receive the newsletter via email.