PORTLAND – Cold and wet weather kept its grip on much of the state Monday as temperatures in Portland were below normal for the 13th day in a row, and precipitation fell for the sixth straight day and for the eighth time in nine days.

For the month, only two days have had above-normal temperatures in Portland, putting May on track to be among the coldest on record, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures have been at or below normal for 26 of the past 29 days.

The continued cold and wet weather is the result of a weather system featuring cold air aloft, easterly winds and lack of sun, said meteorologist James Brown. It’s unusual to have a weather system of this type hang around so long, he said.

“Usually by this time we’re improving – but not this year,” Brown said.

Through Sunday, the average temperature for the month in Portland was 47.8 degrees, or 4.6 degrees below normal. The coldest May on record was in 1967, when the average temperature was 47.3 degrees.

Maine isn’t alone in the recent cold and wet.

Concord, N.H., through Sunday had an average May temperature of 49.9 degrees, which was 4.6 degrees below normal.

In Vermont, the average monthly temperature in Montpelier was 50.3 degrees, or 4.5 degrees below normal, according to the National Weather Service.

But the precipitation in those cities is below normal so far for May, while Portland’s rainfall was above normal. As the rain continues in the days ahead, this will be an even wetter May than usual in Maine.

Meteorologists also were predicting that the cold weather will continue. Through Sunday, Portland’s 372 heating degree days – a measurement of how much heating fuel it takes to heat a building – were 30 percent higher than usual for the month.

“I don’t see any reason we’re going to break this, even through the weekend,” Brown said.