GRAY, Maine — The deep freeze that has been paralyzing the Northeast for much of the winter tightened its grip on Maine on Tuesday, with temperatures plunging below zero in many parts of the state and weather forecasters calling for snow overnight into Wednesday.
Portland’s low temperature of minus 11 on Tuesday broke a record for the date that was nearly five decades old, according to the National Weather Service. The city’s previous low was 7 below zero, set in 1966.
While Bangor’s low temperature of minus 21 did not set a record for the date — the record is minus 26 set in 1929 — the city is on track to experience its the coldest month since recordkeeping began in 1926, according to the weather service.
Through Sunday, the average temperature for the month of February in Bangor was 6.1 degrees, which is 13.8 degrees below normal. Based on forecasts for the remainder of this week, Bangor will finish the month with an average temperature of 6.4 degrees, not only breaking the all-time record for the coldest February but the coldest month the city has observed by about two degrees, according to the weather service. The previous coldest month was January 1994, with an average of 8.4 degrees.
In addition to the bitter cold, a small band of snow is expected Tuesday night into Wednesday, with snow tapering off Wednesday afternoon.
While up to 6 inches is expected in Down East communities, 3 to 4 inches is expected in the Bangor area.
