PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Warm temperatures broke records in parts of Maine on Tuesday, the second day of a pre-summer hot spell.
In Caribou, the high of 92 degrees surpassed the previous record of 87, set in 1974, according to the National Weather Service Office in Caribou. Houlton reached 92 as well, breaking its record of 89, also set in 1974.
Farther south in Millinocket, Tuesday’s high of 93 smashed the existing record of 92, which occurred in 1908. Bangor reached 90 degrees, which wasn’t quite enough to break its 1933 record of 92 degrees.
On Monday, Caribou’s high of 92 degrees broke the record of 84, set in 1991.
Several schools closed due to the heat, and towns like Fort Fairfield offered municipal places as cooling stations. In Presque Isle, the splash pad at the Riverside Park recreation area was packed both days as splashers awaited their turns under the water jets.
The heat was due to wane on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to rise to 76 and dewpoints falling into the 40s. The NWS forecast for Caribou called for further cooling, with a high of 67 Thursday and 70 on Friday, under sunny to mostly sunny skies.
