This drought early warning update was originally sent via email to the Northeast DEWS email list.

Provides a definition of La Nina; a look back at previous La Nina winters; other factors; and the outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal.

Fact Sheet Updated November 2021

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for June – August 2020. Dated September 2020.

Summer was hotter and drier than normal across the region. Caribou and Portland, ME; Kejimkujik (National Park), N.S.; and Moncton, N.B., had their hottest summer on record, while Concord, NH; Yarmouth, N.S.; and Fredericton and St. John, N.B., had one of their five hottest. Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Bas-Caraquet, N.B., had their driest summer on record, while several other sites including Caribou, ME, and Summerside, P.E.I., had one of their five driest.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for June – August 2020.  Dated September 2020.

The Northeast had its third hottest summer at 2.4°F above normal. It was record hot for four states and among the four hottest for seven states.  The Northeast saw 92% of normal summer precipitation, ranking in the middle third of all years. It was among the 20 driest for five states but Maryland's 13th wettest.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for December 2019 – February 2020. Dated March 2020.

Winter temperatures were as much as 4°C (7°F) above normal.  Winter precipitation ranged from 50% of normal to 150% of normal. In Nova Scotia, this winter ranked among the ten driest for the Greenwood and Truro areas.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for December 2019 – February 2020.  Dated March 2020.

The Northeast had its seventh warmest winter at 4.1°F above normal.  This winter was among the 10 warmest for all 12 Northeast states. The Northeast saw 113% of normal precipitation during winter, ranking in the wettest third of all years.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for September – November 2019. Dated December 2019.

Autumn temperatures (averaged over September, October, and November) ranged from 2°C (4°F) below normal to near normal in most areas, with eastern Massachusetts up to 1°C (2°F) above normal.  Autumn precipitation (accumulated from September to November) ranged from 50% of normal to 150% of normal.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for September – November 2019.  Dated December 2019.

The Northeast's autumn average temperature was 0.1°F above normal, ranking in the middle third of all years.  The Northeast saw 95% of normal precipitation during autumn, ranking in the middle third of all years.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for June – August 2019. Dated September 2019.

Summer temperatures (averaged over June, July, and August) were up to 2°C (4°F) above normal for most of the region. Summer precipitation (accumulated from June to August) ranged from 25% of normal to 175% of normal.