NOAA predicts colder than normal deep-water temperatures for the Gulf of Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • May 29, 2025

The Gulf of Maine will again experience colder than normal bottom-water temperatures, according to a new forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA projects deep water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine will be cooler by 0.9 to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit this summer, compared to the seasonal average. The forecast appears to continue a trend that Maine scientists observed for the last year and a half. Nick Record, a senior scientist with the Bigelow Laboratory, said recent measurements taken through the lab's survey are consistent with NOAA's outlook. Colder deep waters may create more favorable conditions for lobster, groundfish and whales.