Itchiest cities include Bangor for January

PORTLAND – Maine was one itchy place in January.

An itch index that ranks more than 400 towns and cities nationwide based on climatic conditions gave Portland a No. 2 ranking in January. Bangor ranked fifth and Houlton ninth.

Places in Colorado, Wyoming and other Western states usually dominate the list. But because of recent cold snaps, eight of the top 10 spots in January went to spots in New England and New York.

The itch index is no joke. Lanacane, which makes moisturizing and anti-itch products, teamed up with the University of Delaware’s Center for Climatic Research to develop an itch-rating system for more than 400 U.S. municipalities.

The index measures the probability of dry, itchy skin based on temperature, wind chill and humidity.