You’ve seen the charts. You’ve probably checked your phone five times this morning. But honestly, predicting the 10 day weather portland maine is kinda like trying to guess which way a Maine lobster will scuttle—it’s never as straightforward as the little icons on your screen suggest.
Right now, we are sitting in the thick of January 2026. If you're standing on Commercial Street today, Wednesday, January 14, it's a bit of a gray wash. The current temperature is exactly 46°F, which feels more like 43°F thanks to an 8 mph breeze coming off the south. It’s cloudy, but don't let the dry pavement fool you; we’ve got light rain moving in tonight with a 35% chance of getting your boots wet.
The January Reality Check
Most people look at a 10-day outlook and see numbers. I see a battle between the Atlantic and the Arctic. Statistically, mid-January is the most frigid time of year in Maine. Meteorologists like Todd Gutner over at News Center Maine often talk about "seasonal lag." Basically, even though the winter solstice was weeks ago, the Earth and the ocean are still bleeding off heat, meaning our true "bottom out" happens right about now.
If you’re planning the next week and a half, buckle up. The variation is wild.
Take tomorrow, Thursday, January 15. We’re looking at a high of 44°F with some sun, but the floor drops out at night. We’re talking a low of 21°F. That’s a 23-degree swing. By Friday, the "real" Maine winter kicks in. The high won't even break the freezing mark, topping out at 26°F with a biting 19 mph west wind. If you aren't wearing a serious parka by Friday night when it hits 18°F, you're going to have a bad time.
The 10-Day Breakdown (The "Prose" Version)
Forget those symmetrical tables that make weather look organized. It’s not. Here is what the next few days actually look like for Portland:
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- The Weekend Mix: Saturday, January 17, is going to be messy. We're looking at a high of 36°F with a mix of rain and snow. It's that classic "slop" weather. Sunday stays mostly cloudy and chilly, hovering around 37°F.
- The Deep Freeze: Monday through Wednesday (Jan 19-21) is when you'll want to check your pipes. Temperatures start a steady slide from 32°F on Monday down to a high of just 22°F by Wednesday. The overnight lows? A bone-chilling 10°F.
- The Late Week Crawl: Toward the end of the 10-day stretch, around Thursday, January 22, and Friday, January 23, we see a slight "warm-up"—if you can call 27°F warm. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a lingering 20% chance of snow flurries.
What Most People Get Wrong About Coastal Forecasts
Living in Portland means living with the Gulf of Maine. It's a massive heat sink. This is why the 10 day weather portland maine often looks completely different than a forecast for, say, Gorham or Augusta.
The "Coastal Division" of Maine’s climate extends about twenty miles inland. Because the water is slower to cool than the land, we often dodge the truly terrifying -30°F readings that hit places like Aroostook County. In fact, Portland's all-time record low for January is -35°F (back in 1878), but those days are outliers. Usually, the ocean keeps us in a "tempered" zone.
But there’s a trade-off. That same ocean air means higher humidity—about 87% on average this month. That "humid cold" is a different beast. It’s a damp, heavy chill that finds the gaps in your scarf and settles in your bones.
Survival Gear and Local Vibes
Honestly, if you're out and about at Payson Park or lacing up skates at Thompson's Point, layers are your only friend. The wind speed is going to spike to 21 mph next Tuesday. That will make a 23°F day feel significantly more aggressive.
If you're looking for things to do while dodging the rain and snow mix:
- Payson Park: They’ve been successful with snowmaking lately, so the sledding hill and XC trails are usually good to go even if Mother Nature is stingy with the real stuff.
- Portland Museum of Art: Free Fridays from 4 PM to 8 PM. It’s the best way to stay warm and cultured without spending a dime.
- The Food Scene: January is the best time to hit the "gastronomic choices" Todd Gutner raves about. No tourists, no hour-long waits for a table at the high-end spots on Middle Street.
Looking Toward the End of the Month
As we push through this 10-day window, the days are actually getting longer. We’re gaining about one minute and 44 seconds of daylight every single day. By the end of January, the sun won't set until nearly 5:00 PM. It’s a small victory, but in a Maine winter, we take what we can get.
The forecast suggests a lot of "partly sunny" and "mostly cloudy" days ahead. Don't expect a blue-sky paradise. The cloud cover in January usually hangs around for about 56% of the time. It's a season of grays, interrupted by the occasional blinding white of a snow squall.
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Actionable Next Steps for Portlanders
- Drip the Faucets: When we hit those 10°F lows next Tuesday and Wednesday, make sure your basement pipes are protected.
- Salt the Walkways: With the rain-to-snow transition on Saturday, January 17, Saturday night is going to be an ice rink. Get your ice melt ready before the temp drops to 26°F.
- Check the NWS Gray Office: For the most hyper-local updates, the National Weather Service office in Gray is the gold standard. They see the "Northeasters" coming long before the national apps do.
- Embrace the "Slop": Saturday's 20% chance of snow and rain is the perfect excuse to stay inside with a local brew or a bowl of chowder.
Keep an eye on that wind direction. When it shifts to the west on Friday, it’s bringing the cold air from the interior. When it stays south, like it is today, enjoy the "warmth" while it lasts.