PORTLAND, Maine — This summer was great! Lots of beach and lake days, lots of sunshine, and ... quite warm.
You definitely noticed it at times, specifically in the beginning of July. Hot and humid days with lots of talk of heat waves.
Labor Day marked the unofficial end of the summer season. Meteorological summer, which is based on temperature trends, has also ended.
This summer was the second warmest on record in Portland, with an average temperature of 69.1 degrees. That is 1.1 degrees above normal, which may not sound like a lot, but you may notice that all of the top five have been in the past seven years.
Bangor also had its second warmest summer on record, with an average high just 1 degree shy of that.
Part of the reason this summer was so warm was due to a ridge of high pressure that sat over the area for an extended period. The jet stream stays farther north in the summer, allowing heat to make its way closer towards us. It allowed warmer air to continually flow into New England.
The general pattern of a ridge is very common, and we actually have one moving into the area over the next couple days. The difference now is that this time of year is cooler and drier, the position of the high is different, the jet stream is farther south, and the ridge will move out in a couple days' time.
If you wanted a little more summer, good news – astronomical summer does not end until the autumnal equinox takes place on Sept. 22.
And even more good news for those who like the warmth: Fall temps are set to stay above average.