PORTLAND, Maine —
Most of us put away our summer clothes in October, but this weekend might be the time to go digging deep into our closets. While it’s not getting crazy warm, it’s going to feel that way with temps soaring into the 50s for part of the state. Even for Bangor, the temp will make a run for the 50-degree mark, well above what you’d typically expect in February when we usually experience the coldest air of the season.
The forecast for Saturday will rival a spring day, with low to mid 50s in southern Maine and low to mid 40s for northern and central parts of the state. Calais will make a run for 47 degrees Downeast.
This warm spell will now happen two years in a row, and on nearly the same exact day. Last year it was even warmer, with mid to upper 50s breaking records in Portland and Bangor.
You can thank high pressure stationed to our south, which is pumping up a southwesterly breeze heading into the weekend. Typically, these setups don’t give us a huge boost in temps during winter, and there won’t be a lot of sun, but still, it will feel warm.
The record of 58 degrees in Bangor for Saturday is out of reach, but I can see a 50-degree report for sure.
Even 48 or 50 would still be much higher than the typical Feb. 17 temp in Bangor of 33.
Portland has a better shot at setting a record.
We need to see 58 degrees at some point during the day Saturday to tie the record set back in 1981 (a rather warm year).
Typically, high temps for the middle of this month are in the low to mid 30s for southern Maine.
No matter what way you look at it, it will feel warm. I wonder how many people will be breaking out the shorts and t-shirts and strolling our beaches on a warm winter day in Maine.
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