No freeze warning for Portland right now
Freeze Warning in Portland, ME? Protect Your Pipes Tonight
When a freeze reaches Portland, the pipes most at risk run through exterior walls, crawl spaces, attics and garages. Let those faucets drip, open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, keep the heat at 55°F or higher and find your main shut-off now. If a pipe has already burst, shut the main and call (888) 840-6512: the line is answered 24/7 and reaches an IICRC-certified restoration company covering your ZIP, which gives you an arrival window for your address on the call. Most water damage jobs in Portland run $1,500–$8,500.
Press 1 for water damage or 2 for mold, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for about half a minute while it connects — that is normal, stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Live status checked Nov 4, 1:12 AM ET · Source: National Weather Service, forecast zone MEZ024
Portland freeze status
No freeze, hard freeze or extreme cold alert covers Portland at the moment. The first hard freezes usually reach the northern states in late October and the South between December and February. This page updates on its own when the Weather Service issues one, and the official Portland forecast shows the overnight lows.
How often Portland gets cold enough to freeze pipes
In NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the nearest weather station, Portland averages 144.1 nights a year at or below 32°F and 63.4 at or below 20°F, the temperature at which pipes in unheated spaces start to freeze. The median first 20°F night is Nov 21, so finish winterizing before then. Compare Portland with 500 other U.S. cities.
Portland's weather and your pipes
Portland, Maine faces water damage from its subarctic-influenced maritime climate: nor'easters from November through April deliver 20–60 inches of snow annually, and ice storms that can add 1–3 inches of ice to trees and power lines, causing roof damage from fallen trees and ice weight. Spring snowmelt flooding overwhelms Maine's river systems, particularly the Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Penobscot. Ice dams form on virtually every Maine home with inadequate attic insulation — a major source of ceiling water damage. Maine's coastal communities face storm surge flooding from Atlantic nor'easters. Pipe freeze events occur regularly when overnight temperatures reach -20°F or below in inland Maine.
Before, during and after a freeze in Portland
1. Before it gets cold
Disconnect garden hoses, shut and drain outdoor spigots if you have an inside valve, and walk to your main shut-off so you can find it in the dark.
2. The night of the freeze
Let faucets on exterior walls drip, open the cabinet doors under those sinks, keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher even if you are away, and keep the garage door closed.
3. If a pipe freezes
Leave the faucet open and warm the pipe from the faucet end with a hair dryer or heating pad, never an open flame. If water does not return, look for a split before it thaws.
4. If a pipe bursts
Close the main shut-off, switch off power to wet rooms at the breaker, photograph everything, then get the water out and the structure dried before mold starts in 24 to 48 hours.
More for Portland
Cumberland County, Maine
Portland freeze questions
Is there a freeze warning in Portland tonight?
Not as of Nov 4, 1:12 AM ET. This page reads the National Weather Service feed for Portland's forecast zone every 30 minutes and changes the moment a freeze, hard freeze or extreme cold alert is issued.
At what temperature do pipes freeze in Portland?
Uninsulated pipes in unheated spaces are at risk once the air around them stays at or below about 20°F for several hours. In Portland, as anywhere, the pipes that freeze first run through exterior walls, crawl spaces, attics and garages. A pipe usually splits while frozen and floods when it thaws.
What should I do if a pipe bursts in Portland?
Shut off the main water valve, open the lowest faucet to drain the lines, turn off power to any wet room at the breaker panel, and photograph the damage. Then get the water out and the walls and floor dried with moisture meters: drywall, insulation and framing left wet for 24 to 48 hours are where mold starts.
Who do I call right now for water damage?
Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. A recorded menu picks up first: choose water damage or mold, key in your 5-digit ZIP code, and hold through the short silence while the call is passed to the company.
Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line. If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.
Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7