Portland Winters Shrink by 13 Days Since 1970

A Climate Central analysis finds winters are shortening across much of the Northeast as temperatures rise.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Severe Weather

Portland Winters Shrink by 13 Days Since 1970

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Do you think winters in your area are getting shorter?

Climate Central found Portland, Maine has 13 fewer winter days than in 1970, based on December-through-February data from 1970 to 2025. Winters were shorter in 195 of the 245 cities studied.

Why it matters

Shorter winters and more extremely warm winter days could affect local residents, seasonal activities and planning across Portland and the wider Northeast. The findings add to evidence that long-term warming is changing seasonal patterns in the region.

Portland's average December-through-February temperature is 26.8 degrees, while the record-warm 2001-02 winter averaged 31.3 degrees. The analysis does not address how the trend will continue in coming decades.

The players

Climate Central

Climate Central is an independent organization of scientists and journalists that studies and communicates climate change research.

The details

The study compared winter length and temperatures in 245 cities using data from 1970 to 2025. A separate Climate Central study found Portland now averages eight more extremely warm days each winter, and 86% of 244 cities analyzed now see about six more such days on average.

1970: Baseline year for the 13 additional winter days in Portland.
2001-02: Portland's warmest winter on record, averaging 31.3 degrees.
December 6, 2001: Portland set its winter record high of 71 degrees.
February 21, 2018: Portland reached 68 degrees.
2023-24: Portland's third-warmest winter on record, averaging 31 degrees.

Seasonal Patterns

Climate Central's separate study found Portland now averages eight more extremely warm winter days each winter, a trend that matches the shorter winter season reported in this analysis. Together, the two findings point to a broader shift in how winter conditions are unfolding in the Northeast compared with the 1970s.

Residents in Portland and across the Northeast may see fewer cold-weather days and more unusually warm winter stretches. Planning for seasonal activities, home heating and outdoor work may need to account for these changing patterns.

The takeaway

Winters in Portland are getting shorter and warmer compared with decades past. Keeping an eye on local seasonal forecasts can help residents plan for more variable winter conditions.