St. John Valley Weather, Dec. 20-26, 2023

Joseph E. Becker, Special to The County
5 months ago

3-Day Outlook: Wednesday, Dec. 20-Friday, Dec. 22 

An upper-level low will slide by to the south of the region today with high pressure building in from the west/northwest and interacting with low pressure to the east to produce gusty west/northwest winds across the Valley today. Winds will continue to be gusty tonight through Thursday night. A dry cold front wild drop across the region tonight with some increased cloudiness the main marker of its passage. 

Some isolated snow showers will be possible along the northern border Thursday morning into the afternoon. The colder air mass will bring clearing skies and temperatures in the upper single digits Thursday night and highs only in the lower 20s Friday. Winds will subside Friday evening and help moderate wind chill values.

Apex Wx Daily Summary 

Today: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny with a high around 32. West wind becoming northwest in the 5-10 mph range.

Wednesday night: Partly cloudy with a low near 17. Northwest wind 13-17 mph gusting to around 28 mph. 

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high around 22. North wind 15-20 mph gusting to 32 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly clear with a low near 9. North to northwest wind 13-18 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Wind chill values around 0 to minus 5 possible.

Friday: Mostly sunny with a high around 21. Northwest wind 10-15 mph with gusts to around 24.

Friday night: Partly cloudy with a low near 13. West wind 0-7 mph.

4- to 7-Day Outlook: Saturday, Dec. 23-Tuesday, Dec. 26

High pressure will be the primary weather feature through Christmas into early next week with increased cloudiness possible Saturday as a weak disturbance tracks by to the north. Blocking in the Atlantic will impede much movement in the flow with partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies across The County. 

A low pressure system over the Midwest looks to bring the next chance for precipitation to the Valley around midweek next week with a slight chance for snow showers mixing with rain showers Tuesday afternoon with details still subject to change this far out. 

Apex Wx Daily Summary

Saturday: Partly sunny to mostly cloudy with a high around 32. Southwest wind 0-7 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy with a low near 22. West wind  0-7 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with a high around 36. West wind 0-7 mph.

Christmas Eve: Partly cloudy with a low near 24. West wind 0-7 mph.

Christmas Day: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny with a high around 37. Southwest wind 0-7 mph.

Monday night: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance for snow showers after midnight. Southwest wind 8-14 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance for morning snow showers and afternoon snow/rain showers. High around 37. West wind 8-14 mph.

Tuesday night: Considerable cloudiness with a 30 percent chance for precipitation. Low near 25. Northwest wind 8-14 mph.

8- to 14-Day Regional Climate Trends: Wednesday, Dec. 27-Tuesday, Jan. 2 

Above normal temperatures / Above normal precipitation

Note: Computer model precision diminishes the further into the week the forecast projects. Check The County.me or the National Weather Service Caribou, ME at for weather updates with more current information for the Saint John Valley.

The Week Ahead is the work of UMFK Professor Joseph E. Becker based on personal weather station data, various computer forecast models, and information that the National Weather Service, NOAA, and other weather resources provide.