From spring-like weather to arctic chill, that's the seasaw ride we've been on for the past several weeks. Temperatures on the island dipped to their lowest levels of the season, bottoming out at -4.4° around 7AM Wednesday morning. The wind chill stood at -9.1°, with gusts in excess of 25mph. The barometer was very high and the humidity low.

Today could well be our coldest day of the season, with anticipated highs under 15° in Bar Harbor, coupled with gusty winds from the north. Tonight offers clear skies, diminishing winds, and likely still colder temperatures, with the dewpoint in the minus teens!

Ok, it's January in Maine. The calendar and reality in the weather department finally agree. Can you tell I'm a lilttle miffed at mother nature? If I'm feeling brave, I may get outside and get some photos of the changes. That's a big "if"!

After such a long stretch of mild weather in a season normally cold and snowy, winter may have finally arrived on the island. The short stretch of cold has iced over many of the small ponds, and significant snow is anticipated for Monday afternoon into the evening.

As of 3PM Monday, skies were cloudy with very light snow falling. Accumulation was around 3 inches. Sunday saw an accumulation of under 1/2 inch of snow in Town Hill.

Snow-covered carriage road in Acadia.

Now we have to get used to this "normal" Maine weather, and I admit that for me, it'll take some doing. I liked being able to get out for walks with the dogs without the usual "snowballs" accumulating on the bottoms of their paws. You pooches out there reading this will know exactly what I'm talking about Right? Roof! I liked being able to wash the car and have it last more than 10 minutes, too! I also liked checking my heating oil and being able to put off that call for more! And I really loved keeping the heavy winter outerwear stuffed in the closet! It was like living in, oh say, New Jersey.

Now, back to reality!

Although the weather services tell us it will be brief, cold air has finally settled in over the island. At daybreak the temperature in Bar Harbor is 11.8°, with a dewpoint of 3.3°. Yesterday the temperature here climbed to just 30.5°, the first time we've been below freezing for a daily high since December 30th, and only the 4th time since Dec 1st!

Shiner, our chow/shepherd mix, stepped outside this morning and lounged on the deck for just a few minutes, then wanted back in. He signaled me with the usual "scratch, scratch" at the storm door. He has a thick coat of fur and generally prefers cold weather, but maybe this was just a bit too much. After all, he's not used to it any more than we are, what with all of the mild weather of late. Chloe, our golden retriever, on the other hand, didn't even want to go out. She looked at me with a steady eye, as if to say, "don't even go there, daddy. I can hold it a while longer"!

Shiner, our chow mix, on a carriage road.

It seems that winter may finally get a foothold over the next week or so, if not at least a month late. Weather services are hedging on a storm for early next week. I'm going to play it safe and check out the snowblower today in case I need to clear our long driveway, for what would be only the second time this season!

Tomorrow, Bar Harbor enters what is normally the coldest 2 weeks of the year, where the average high is 28°, and the average low is 8°. After January 26th, the averages begin to climb. I look at that as the first sign of the changing season.

A clear dawn in January is usually a recipe for very cold temperatures on the island and in Maine. But, in keeping with our "what happened to winter" season, the temperature is only in the low 20's in Bar Harbor this morning, a good 10 degrees above our average for this date. With no snow and little ice, combined with a warmer than normal ocean temperature, the trend will take time to reverse. We have 7 weeks left until March, so mother nature needs to get a move on! Will that happen? Will winter '07 be one for the record books? It's starting to look that way!

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, ME 1/07/07

Today will be another great day to get outside and enjoy Maine. Stay off the ice! There is NO ICE ON ANY BODY OF WATER IN MAINE THAT'S SAFE!

Yesterday the island received another in a long string of rainstorms, and when the final drops had fallen, the rain gauge measured an inch. The early morning temperature hovered just above freezing, but it slowly warmed throughout the day, reaching a high of 48.9°. The wind also picked up from the sw and gusted to 24mph.

Typical Island Scene, NO SNOW, NO ICE!, 1/7/07

Tuesday's weather featured clear skies at daybreak, with a deck of puffy cumulous hanging offshore. Clouds rolled across the island from the north and west by noon, and on my daily walk on a carriage road with the dogs, Chloe and Shiner, a few snowflakes came tumbling down, not even enough to wet the ground. The temperature, despite the morning sunshine, struggled to reach the upper 30's. Even still, that's above normal, and most of the island's ponds, lakes and streams remain completely open, with little or no ice.

At 4PM the skies remain mostly cloudy, with an occasional flurry. The temperature remains stuck in the mid 30's. Tomorrow's outlook is bright sunshine and seasonably chilly.

No, we didn't visit a Florida theme park, but we had our own wild ride, of sorts, on the island yesterday and last evening. Much of the day featured dense fog with occasional rain showers, but during the late afternoon the wind picked up from the west and gusted to 30 mph, blowing the fog out to sea and setting the stage for clearing skies.

As we were walking on Main Street in downtown Bar Harbor around 6PM, I noted how very warm it felt, and upon arriving at our car I discovered the temperature had climbed to 59°! Moments later the skies let loose and a thunderstorm ensued. Yes, lightening and thunder, IN JANUARY in eastern Maine! An hour later the skies were clear and the moon shone brightly!

Our yard, January 4th, 2007. Winter in Maine?

Today breaks mild, clear, sunny and windy in Bar Harbor; the temperature just under 40°. We're really getting a taste of everything on the island this weekend, except winter! The trend, they tell us, is 'a changin' this second week of January. Will winter arrive? I'm not betting on it.

Did you know that Acadia National Park remains open in the winter? And with the snow-free environs this season, there are many beautiful spots accessible on foot and by car. A small part of the park loop road remains open throughout the winter. It runs along Sand Beach, past Thunder Hole and exits to route 3 before Otter Cliffs. You can also get to Jordan Pond by car from Seal Harbor, where you'll have access to trails and carriage roads deep inside the park.

View from stone bridge to Hulls Cove, Duck Brook, Acadia National Park, ME

For more information visit the ANP website:
http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/hours.htm,
or visit Park Headquarters/ winter Park Visitor Center on Eagle Lake Road, Rte 233.

The weather will be spectacularly warm today and through Sunday to get away and visit in a season when you'll have many spots entirely to yourselves. I plan to get out there and enjoy it! The record high in Bar Harbor for today is 57°,and while we may not threaten that record today, we will likely get to 50°!