What to expect this fall in New Hampshire and Maine
If you’re hoping for a classic New England autumn, filled with cool air, crisp leaves, and quiet walks through foliage-lined roads, this year may be on your side—at least according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. While many parts of the country might still feel summer’s leftover heat, the Northeast, including New Hampshire and Maine, could enjoy a refreshingly traditional fall.
The extended seasonal outlook suggests that residents in New Hampshire and Maine will experience cooler and drier weather compared to recent years. For those craving a return to sweater weather, the signs are promising.
September in New Hampshire and Maine: cool and damp up north
The Almanac’s projection puts the average temperature for September at 59°F (15°C), which is 2 degrees below normal. Rainfall is expected to hit 3.5 inches, with heavier showers in northern areas, while the southern parts may see less precipitation. These figures suggest comfortable days and chilly nights, likely creating ideal foliage conditions by mid-month.
October forecast: colder, drier, and closer to peak fall
Moving into October, temperatures are expected to drop even further, averaging around 46°F (8°C)—3 degrees below typical seasonal norms. The month is projected to bring just 2.5 inches of rain, signaling a dry spell that could sharpen the colors of the changing leaves and create crisp, brisk mornings across the region. The forecast mentions scattered showers, brief warm-ups, but predominantly chilly air lingering through the end of the month.
How the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts weather
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, first published in 1792, uses a proprietary mix of solar science, climatology, and meteorological data to make its long-range forecasts. Its system reportedly considers patterns in solar activity and matches them with historical weather trends to develop season-specific predictions.
The Almanac claims its forecasts are around 80% accurate, though that figure is often debated among experts. Still, it remains one of the most widely followed weather references, especially in New England communities.
How do other forecasts compare?
Interestingly, the National Weather Service (NWS) is offering a different perspective. Their September outlook shows a 70% to 80% likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures for all of New England, including Maine and New Hampshire. In contrast to the Almanac’s cooler forecast, the NWS suggests a more mild and potentially warm fall.
As for rainfall, the NWS outlook provides little clarity, indicating “equal chances” for above-average, normal, or below-average precipitation. In short, the fall rainfall picture remains uncertain.
Farmers’ Almanac outlook: a cool start, stormy end
Another voice in the long-range weather game, the Farmers’ Almanac (a separate publication from the Old Farmer’s Almanac), predicts a dry and cool beginning to autumn, with a colder, stormier finish across the Northeast. This forecast aligns more closely with traditional fall expectations in New England, especially for those in coastal Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
As always, long-range forecasts carry uncertainty, but for now, the expectation is set: New Hampshire and Maine may finally enjoy a refreshingly cool and dry fall, just in time for harvest festivals, leaf-peeping season, and apple-picking weekends.
