It has rained in Maine at least one day every weekend since the end of March. That’s more than a coincidence.
Through April and mid-May, most of the state has seen more precipitation than normal — an entire inch more than in a typical April, according to national data. Some of the higher precipitation totals have happened on weekends, though the state has had its share of rainy weekdays too.
Some explanation can be found in weather patterns, according to state climatologist Sean Birkel.
Variations in the weather sometimes create recurring patterns associated with waves in the jet stream, he said. Since late March or early April, a cloud-causing low pressure system has tended to move through the Northeast every few days — not exactly in a 7-day period, but close.
For those Mainers who produce their own food and are now starting their growing season, the National Atmospheric and Atmospheric Administration predicts more above-normal precipitation in June. There are then equal chances of higher or lower than average levels up through August.
That could be good news for farmers and gardeners who have faced drought conditions and occasionally dry wells in a handful of recent seasons. Only a small area in southern Maine was experiencing unusually dry conditions as of May 13, according to the national drought monitor.
But too much rain has also challenged Maine growers as climate change causes swings between extreme weather conditions. Heavy rains can wash out fields and soil nutrients, encourage the spread of plant diseases and harm the root development of young plants.
Cloudy days help recent transplants adjust to the shock of their new conditions and send out roots, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association wrote in its pest report this week. But sharp transitions in weather conditions can be hard to adjust to, so prepare to make sure they have enough water and are protected if it suddenly becomes dry and windy.
Wildfire danger was also low across the entire state on Tuesday, according to the Maine Forest Service.