Tuesday, July 8-Friday, July 10
High pressure over the Valley will provide sunny, hot, and increasingly humid weather today before shifting east tonight as a cold front approaches from the west. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the upper 80s across much of the region. Morning low clouds and patches of fog will linger across some southern areas before giving way to mostly sunny skies. Wildfire smoke from western Quebec will remain high in the atmosphere, creating a milky or hazy appearance to the sky, especially across northern and western areas during the morning before becoming more noticeable farther south during the afternoon. Although the sky may appear hazy, the smoke is expected to remain well above the ground, so widespread air quality impacts are not anticipated.
Increasing moisture ahead of the approaching cold front will make tonight feel noticeably more humid. Scattered showers are expected to develop across the area late this evening before gradually becoming less widespread overnight. Overnight temperatures will remain mild, generally in the lower 60s.
The cold front will cross the region on Thursday, bringing partly sunny, warm, and humid conditions with afternoon highs in the lower to middle 80s. Additional showers are expected to redevelop, especially across central and northern areas, and a few thunderstorms may develop during the afternoon as the atmosphere becomes modestly unstable. There is also a slight chance that some of the wildfire smoke could mix closer to the surface across area during the afternoon. Showers may continue into Thursday night as the front slowly moves east, with overnight lows settling into the lower 60s. Rainfall amounts are not expected to be great—generally less than 1/10-inch for most locations.
A secondary cold front will move through on Friday, bringing a gradual decrease in humidity and afternoon temperatures in the upper 70s to around 80. The greatest chance for showers and thunderstorms will be in southern Maine. While an isolated strong storm cannot be ruled out on Thursday or Friday, the primary concern will be locally heavy rainfall that could lead to brief downpours and isolated poor drainage flooding. The Weather Predication Center has portions of the western Maine border region at risk for excessive rainfall.
High pressure will build into the region Friday night and remain in control through the weekend, bringing clearing skies, cooler nights with lows in the middle 50s, lower humidity, and generally pleasant weather. Overall, temperatures will remain above normal through the end of the week before seasonably comfortable air settles into the region for the weekend.
Saturday, July 11-Tuesday, July 14
High pressure will build into the region for the weekend, bringing a stretch of pleasant summer weather. Saturday and Sunday will feature mostly sunny to sunny skies, comfortably low humidity, and afternoon temperatures ranging from the middle 70s to the lower 80s. Overnight temperatures will fall into the middle 50s Saturday night and the upper 50s Sunday night, providing cool and comfortable sleeping conditions. Light northwest winds on Saturday will gradually become lighter as high pressure settles overhead.
Changes will begin late Sunday night as a warm front approaches from the west, bringing increasing clouds and slightly more humid air. The front will move through the region on Monday, bringing partly sunny skies along with a chance of scattered afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures will reach the upper 70s to lower 80s, with overnight lows Monday night remaining milder in the upper 50s to lower 60s.
The unsettled pattern will continue into Tuesday as the weakening front stalls near the Maine and New Brunswick border. This will bring another chance for showers, especially during the afternoon, along with isolated thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures will remain in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Another cold front will approach Tuesday night, keeping the chance for showers and a few evening thunderstorms across the Saint John Valley.
Daily Forecast
Today: Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with isolated showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Thursday: Partly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Friday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers, mainly in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.
Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.
Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
Monday: Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tuesday: Partly sunny with a chance of showers. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Weather Notice: The weekly forecast, by UMFK Professor Joseph E. Becker, is based on available computer models and data and may not reflect current conditions or later forecast updates. Check The County.me or the National Weather Service Caribou, Maine for the most recent weather information for the Saint John Valley.
