Climate Change in Maine
Maine's Climate is Changing
Over the past century, Maine's climate has gotten warmer and warmer
- From 1900 - 2020, average annual temperatures in Maine have risen almost 3.5 °F.
- Winter temperatures have been increasing twice as fast as summer temperatures, with persistently warmer temperatures since the 1990s (Figure 1).
- Since 2005, annual precipitation is 15% greater than the long-term average.
- The number of 2-inch extreme precipitation events has doubled over the past two decades.
- Since 1912, sea level in Portland has risen by 7.4 inches.
- Since 1970, sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine have risen 2 °F.
Maine's Climate Will Continue Getting Warmer
Our climate is warming due to a big increase in emissions of greenhouse gases since approximately 1950, primarily from the burning off coal, oil and natural gas. Maine's climate will continue getting warmer and wetter over the next several decades, and sea-levels will continue to rise for centuries.
How much our climate changes depends on how much greenhouse gas we emit into the atmosphere.
How Will Kittery's Climate Change by 2050?
