Temps set area records
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Record-breaking high temperatures on Monday had the cold intolerant rejoicing and the snowmobilers cringing — but all can be assured that January temperatures will be back to normal soon.
RECORD temperatures were set in Aroostook County over the past week, with highs in the 50s reported in some areas. 
Washburn’s temperature at 4 p.m. on Jan. 13 was recorded at 46.4 degrees.
“We are back on the downward trend as far as temperatures go,” explained Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Caribou Noelle Runyan on Tuesday morning. Runyan said that temperatures today are slated for the mid-20s, tomorrow’s temperatures will fall between the teens and low-20s, and Friday’s temperatures will be down in the single digits for the Caribou/Presque Isle area.
But while January’s back to its old frigid self, Monday brought about temperatures usually reserved for spring.
In Presque Isle, the mercury reached a balmy 54 degrees. Caribou’s high temp reached 52 degrees just after noon, breaking the previous record of 51 degrees set back in 2005. Houlton reached up to 49 degrees.
Fortunately, the record-breaking highs weren’t enough to ravage the regions snowmobile trails too severely.
According to Kathy Mazzuchelli, superintendent of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department, the trails should be fully recovered in no time.
“The good news is that we had a lot of snow,” she said. “Some of the fields further east, toward the Canadian border, are going to be a little boney, but there’s some snow in the forecast that should bring them back. “
Mazzuchelli explained that the trails have already hardened back up, which will make a great base for the flurries slated to fall on Thursday.
Aside from a few barren patches here and there, Mazzuchelli said that last week, she couldn’t find a bad trail.
“[The groups who maintain The County’s trails] are doing an outstanding job — the trails are well groomed and well marked,” she said. “It speaks volumes for the people who do all the work.”
While a very melty Monday was a little bit hard on the sledders, Mazzuchelli is hopeful that with some snow and a bit of TLC, the trails should be good as new.
Those waiting by the window for the snow to fall can check out the latest weather at the Caribou National Weather Service site, www.weather.gov/car. Caribou’s NOAA office is also on Facebook and, recently, Twitter; their Twitter address is NWS Caribou.
