Caribou, ME – Winter made its first push into northern New England this weekend, with freezing overnight temperatures officially ending the growing season in parts of Maine. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Caribou, the cold snap hit September 21 across northwest Aroostook, northern Somerset, and northern Piscataquis counties.
Forecasters reported lows dropping into the 20s and low 30s Saturday night, the coldest readings of the season so far. The drop signals the end of the growing season in the North Woods, which runs from May 21 through September 21. Central, eastern, and downeast Maine will follow in October as frost and freeze conditions expand southward.
The Caribou weather office noted it is testing a new method this fall, extending frost and freeze alerts beyond median dates to account for late-season weather shifts. Officials say the goal is to provide farmers, gardeners, and residents with more accurate guidance as Maine transitions into winter conditions.
Looking ahead, forecasters expect showers across central and northern areas Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures for the rest of the week are projected to remain near normal, though the return of freezing nights signals that winter is already settling into northern New England.
For updated frost and freeze details, residents can visit weather.gov/car.
