Wednesday-Friday
Low pressure in northern Québec will pull a cold front towards the Saint John Valley today, and the front will cross the region tonight. Some freezing rain this morning will turn to light snow, which is expected to continue into the afternoon. Tonight, a weak ridge of high pressure will build into the Valley with skies becoming mostly clear overnight.
Clouds increase Thursday as a strong area of low pressure over the Great Lakes moves into Québec and track to the northwest of Maine Friday into Saturday pulling a cold front across the SJV. Rain is expected to overspread the area Thursday night and continue Friday into Friday night before mixing with and changing to snow early Saturday.
Temperatures will surge ahead of the front, climbing into the upper 40s by Friday afternoon. Rainfall totals in the 3/4 to 1-inch range are possible with Maine at marginal risk for excessive rainfall meaning isolated flooding will be possible. Gusty southerly winds are also expected in the 10-15 mph range with gusts to 30 mph possible.
Behind the front Friday night, cold air pouring into the Valley behind the front will bring the risk of flash freezing of water on area roadways producing hazardous travel conditions. Temperatures will fall into the 10° to 15°F range Friday night with chilly winds chill values thanks to gusty south winds overnight.
Saturday-Tuesday
Another low pressure tracking north of the Great Lakes heads east pulling an occluded front towards the SJV. Snow is expected to overspread the region Saturday night with snow likely Sunday as the front crosses the region. Snow tapers off Sunday night.
For Sunday night and Monday, high pressure builds in from the west with thinning clouds and cold temperatures for the Valley. Partly cloudy skies develop Sunday night with partly sunny skies Monday and partly cloudy skies Monday night into Tuesday. Another frontal system approaches later Tuesday bringing increasing chances of snow Tuesday night into Wednesday.
For the holiday period, while no major systems are currently expected, a few inches of snow may occur with systems affecting the area next week (Tuesday and again on Friday) based on current forecast model information. However, forecast model uncertainty is considerable that far out.
Daily Forecast Outlook
Today: Cloudy with a chance of snow. A slight chance of freezing rain this morning, then a chance of freezing rain this afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch possible. Ice accumulation around a trace. Not as cool with highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow with a slight chance of freezing rain in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Little or no snow accumulation. Cold with lows around 11. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Thursday: Mostly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain after midnight. Not as cold with lows in the upper 20s. Temperature rising into the upper 30s after midnight. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Friday: Areas of fog in the morning. Rain. Not as cool with highs in the upper 40s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely with a chance of snow in the evening, then a slight chance of snow after midnight. Light snow accumulation possible. Much colder with lows 10 to 15. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Much colder with highs around 20.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the evening, then snow after midnight. Cold with lows around 10 above. Temperature rising to around 15 after midnight. Chance of snow 90 percent.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Snow likely, mainly in the morning. Cold with highs in the upper 20s. Temperature falling into the mid 20s in the afternoon. Chance of snow 70 percent.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Cold with lows 5 to 10 above.
Monday: Partly sunny. Colder with highs 15 to 20. Temperature falling to around 10 above in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Cold with lows around zero.
Tuesday: Partly sunny. A chance of snow in the afternoon. Cold with highs 15 to 20. Chance of snow 30 percent.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with snow likely. Lows in the 5 to 10 above. Chance of snow is 60 percent.
Weather Notice: The weekly forecast is by UMFK Professor Joseph E. Becker 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.
