By Doug Fletcher,Staff Writer

This month’s rains have pushed October 2005 into the National Weather Service record books.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, 14.26 inches had fallen on Portland since the month began, said meteorologist Art Lester.

That’s enough to make this month the second-wettest October on record, he said. Previously, that was October 1962, when 12.27 inches of rain soaked Portland.

October 1996 holds the No. 1 spot, with 16.86 inches. It isn’t likely that this month will wash that record away.

“It looks pretty good for the rest of the week,” Lester said. “We’re on the improving side of the storm system” that passed to the east of Maine Tuesday.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday hold promise of some sun and temperatures in the 50s, Lester said.

“There’s a backdoor front that could drop in on us Sunday,” he added, but it isn’t likely to produce much precipitation.

Until Oct. 8, autumn was shaping up nicely, Lester said. In September, Maine only got 2.13 inches of rain – 1.24 inches below normal – and temperatures averaged 63.6 degrees, nearly 5 degrees above average.

“Then the big rains started,” said Lester, and they’ve been persistent right up to now.

As for November’s weather, the venerable Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that it will open with a “teeth-chattering” cold front followed by rain. From the Nov. 6 to Nov. 17, its forecast declares: “Too good to be true; skies of cobalt blue, and warmer, too!”

“Make the best it,” the almanac advises, “you’re likely not to like the rest of it.”

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