Maine Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, and Auburn
Summary
July brought unusually dry weather across Maine, marking the state's 4th driest such month in 77 years of records as summer rainfall dropped well below normal. The persistent dry spell triggered elevated fire risks across central and southern areas, while average temperatures remained higher than typical. Looking forward, long-range forecasts suggest elevated chances of warmer-than-average conditions continuing through late summer and autumn.
This month in numbers
Precipitation was the standout headline for July 2026, dropping to just 52.32 mm across the state, which is 44.7 mm below the 1961–1990 baseline and ranks as the 4th driest on record. Average temperatures reached 19.56°C, sitting 1.0°C above baseline as the 27th warmest month, while maximum temperatures averaged 26.06°C, an anomaly of +1.3°C and the 19th warmest. On the global stage, July recorded its 3rd warmest land temperature in 87 years of records, finishing 1.6°C above baseline.
What changed
The dry period caps a warm season from May to July 2026, which averaged 15.69°C (+0.8°C anomaly) to rank as the 20th warmest three-month period on record for Maine. Daytime highs were even more pronounced over this stretch, with maximum temperatures averaging 22.17°C (+0.9°C anomaly), the 17th highest on record. Internationally, the global May–July period was the 2nd warmest on record (+1.5°C anomaly), placing Maine's mild summer within a globally elevated thermal trend.
What’s driving change?
Maine's dry spell was reinforced by , where parched ground accelerates local heat retention rather than cooling through evaporation, alongside broader seasonal shifts across high northern latitudes. All of Maine's 3 wildfires this year have happened in the past month, and active events are tracked at Extreme Weather tracker. On a global scale, the tropical Pacific is in a moderate El Niño, which is intensifying and forecast to peak at Very Strong in Oct-Dec with an 81% probability. Shifts in tropical ocean temperatures are tracked at ENSO, with historical teleconnections pointing toward a modest tendency for milder winter conditions in the region.
Looking ahead
Seasonal climate models indicate a higher likelihood of above-average temperatures and variable precipitation persisting across northern New England over the coming months.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Maine
Köppen Dfb · ContinentalMaine has a continental climate (Köppen Dfb: Humid continental - warm summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 19.9°C, while January is the coldest at -7.5°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1142mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Maine
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Maine
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Maine
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Maine
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Maine
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Maine. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (4.7°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 28.5°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jan (+2.5°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Maine
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Maine changing?
Maine is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Maine?
Maine has a continental climate (Köppen Dfb: Humid continental - warm summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 19.9°C, while January is the coldest at -7.5°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1142mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Maine come from?
Climate data for Maine comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Maine climate data cover?
The Maine climate profile covers Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland and surrounding areas. Maine climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Maine climate update refreshed?
The Maine climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Maine climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Maine climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.