MAINE MONITOR • June 20, 2025
While it’s been rainy and cool these past few weeks the months ahead are gearing up to be hotter than usual, per the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s three-month forecast. That comes with the potential for more extreme heat, more humidity, and, according to environmental epidemiologist Rebecca Lincoln at Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, more risk for heat-related illnesses. Heat can be particularly dangerous in Maine since we are not accustomed to the extreme temperatures seen in other parts of the country. Under President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, NOAA is set to lose 25 percent of its funding. That would reduce the agency’s workforce, including at the National Weather Service, which will affect the accuracy of weather forecasting and the ability to collect climate data.