Yes, This Really Has Been the Coldest & Snowiest Winter Maine Has Seen in Years

When I was a kid growing up in Maine, I remember that we used to have really snowy and cold winters.

That has changed a lot over the last few decades.  The winters, overall, have gotten really mild.  This has been especially true over the last decade.  Even though we have been getting about one massive storm each winter, the overall temperature has been warning.  As a result, any of the snow that we get typically melts away within a few days.

That is not true for this winter!

As I look out the window of my Augusta office, I can see massive snowbanks in the parking lots of our downtown area.  At my house there is so much snow that I don't know where to put it all!

It's not just you and I thinking that we're having a rough winter, either.  The data backs it up.

According to an article on the KJ website, Portland has picked up about 38 inches so far this winter, and Bangor is closer to 47 inches, according to federal weather records.  That’s a lot of shoveling!  And, while we are pretty far away from the annual records we have set over the last few decades, it is important to remember that we are only partway through winter.  There is a lot of time left for us to set a new record.

What about the temperatures?  The temps have been colder, right?  Well, that depends onw here in the state you are.

The article explains that Maine has averaged about 20.8 degrees in winter over the past decade.  Stretch that out over the last century, and it drops to around 17 degrees. Portland has actually been milder this winter, averaging 23.5 degrees so far.  Bangor is colder at 13.4, but still a touch warmer than it was at the start of the 2017–18 winter.

Of course, even though we have had some warmer days that have taken the average up, there is no doubt that, over the last few weeks, we have been dealing with many days of brutally cold temperatures.

What is your opinion on the winter so far?  Share your thoughts with us by sending us a message using our apps.