Winter lingered in northern New England, and so will the mud
Posted April 29, 2017 7:00 am
NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine (AP) - Spring is in the air. But mud is on the ground, and will be for a while.
Mud season is an annual mucky rite of passage in the lives of northern New Englanders. This year, it's gloppier than usual in parts of the region, and hanging around longer.
Mud season sets in when snow melts, ground softens and spring rains come. Parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont had a snowier winter than usual, followed by a wetter-than-average spring, making for a muddier mess.
Mud season is normally over by April, but forecasters say it could stick around until early May.
A sign warns of a closure to an all-terrain-vehicle trail at Androscoggin Riverside State Park in Turner, Maine, Wednesday, April 27, 2017. Soils saturated with snowmelt and rainwater has forced the closure of many off-road trails. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
Raoul Rivera walks over muddy ruts left by the tractor he drives at the Brigeen dairy farm, Thursday, April 28, 2017, in Turner, Maine. Mud season is an annual mucky rite of spring in northern New England, and this year it's gloppier than typical in some parts of the region, and it's hanging around for longer than usual. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
A motorist drives on the wrong side of the road to avoid a large puddle on Tuttle Road in Pownal, Maine, Wednesday, April 27, 2017. An extended mud season has made travel challenging in many rural communities with gravel roads in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
High, waterproof boots are a must-have for a farmworker at the Brigeen dairy farm, Thursday, April 28, 2017, in Turner, Maine. Northern New England is experiencing a prolonged mud season because of a late-arriving spring and recent rains. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
Marisa Tobey digs in the moist soil of her garden, Thursday, April 28, 2017, in Freeport, Maine. Above average snowfall combined with recent heavy rains have made for muddy conditions throughout northern New England. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
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