3-Day Outlook: Wed. May 22 – Fri. May 24
For today, partly sunny skies are expected for most of the Saint John Valley with daytime highs reaching the low 80s once more. A disturbance aloft will keep a slight chance for showers across the SJV over the course of the day. Clouds increase tonight as a strong cold front approaches with showers likely after midnight along with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Overnight lows fall into the lower 60s with rainfall amounts totaling up to around 1/4-inch.
Plenty of clouds with showers and isolated afternoon thunderstorms are expected Thursday as the front moves through. Rainfall amounts look to be in the one-tenth to one-quarter inch range. While severe weather may be possible Thursday, the timing of frontal passage as well as the degree of destabilization of the atmosphere Thursday will determine what kind of thunderstorm activity occurs. Currently, NWS Caribou states that “[s]trong thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. Some storms may produce small hail and gusty winds, mainly south of a Houlton to Bangor line.” Daytime highs reach the upper 70s Thursday. Scattered showers under partly cloudy skies with lows in the middle 50s are expected Thursday night.
Partly cloudy skies develop behind the front Thursday night into early Friday. An upper-level trough and secondary cold front move through Friday with a chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Some storms could produce small hail. Scattered showers are possible with partly cloudy skies Friday night.
Daily Summary
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind.
Tonight: Isolated showers before midnight, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 2am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 7 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday: Showers likely before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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4-7 Day Outlook: Sat. May 23 – Tue. May 28
An upper-level ridge builds in Saturday with mostly sunny skies across the Saint John Valley. Scattered showers are possible Saturday night as a disturbance moves across the region. Partly sunny skies with a chance of showers are expected Sunday with partly cloudy skies and scattered showers possible Sunday night. Low pressure over the Great Lakes slides east Memorial Day into Tuesday with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers through the period.
Daily Summary
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 9 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Memorial Day: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday Night: Cloudy with showers. Low 52. Chance of rain 60%.
8-14 Day Regional Climate Trends: Wed. May 29 – Tue. June 4
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.
