Precipitation was below normal in parts of the state last month, reducing water levels in some brooks, rivers and streams across the region, according to an official at the National Weather Service in Caribou.
Dustin Jordan, meteorologist at the NWS in Caribou, said Thursday that some parts of Maine are “definitely below normal” as far as rainfall. He said the dry conditions are mostly in northern Maine, beginning in Bangor and stretching into Houlton and Caribou.
Rainfall was well below normal, and helped contribute to the near all-time driest September across parts of central and Down East Maine, the weather service said.
Bangor had only 0.89 of an inch of rain this past month, according to the NWS, which made it the third driest September on record behind only the driest September in 1929 with 0.64 of an inch of rain, and 1948 with 0.74 of an inch of rain.
Rainfall across northern Maine was below average, and ranged from 50 to 80 percent of normal. At Caribou there was a total of 2.59 inches of rain, which made it the driest September since 2009.
Jordan said that in September, Houlton received 1.30 inches of rain for the month, well below the average of 3.18 inches.
At the same time, Jordan pointed out, Bangor is still on pace to receive a normal rainfall for the year. He said Bangor has received 28.62 inches of rain this year. The normal yearly amount for the city is 29.77 inches.