FORT KENT, Maine — With as much as three-quarters of an inch of rain expected Friday night into Saturday in northern Maine, the National Weather Service in Caribou again extended its flood warning for residents living along the Fish River chain of lakes.
The weather service warned of the possibility of scattered thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall Friday afternoon and evening across northern parts of the state, including Penobscot, Hancock, and Washington counties.
Many homes and camps along the Fish River chain of lakes in Aroostook County remained inundated Friday, including at Portage Lake, Saint Froid Lake, Eagle Lake, Square Lake, Cross Lake, and Long Lake.
With the additional rain, water levels in The County are expected to remain high throughout the weekend, though officials are hopeful flooding will not get worse than has been experienced thus far this week.
NWS meteorologist Donald Dumont said that a cold front moving into Aroostook late Friday will bring gusty winds of up to 35 miles per hour, possibly increasing issues for those living along the Fish River chain of lakes.
“That can actually move the remaining lake ice and push it onto the eastern shores,” Dumont said. He also indicated that while much of Saturday should remain rain-free, more showery activity could return on Sunday.
In Fort Kent, the Fish River was at 11.8 feet early Friday afternoon and still causing minor flooding in lowland areas around RIverside Park and the Block House picnic area. The water level is expected to rise slightly to a high of about 12.2 feet by Saturday evening, according to the NWS Caribou office. Levels are forecast to begin subsiding Sunday night. The St. John River in Fort Kent is not expected to be a threat with levels expected to fluctuate between 21.1 feet and 21.4 feet, well below the 22.5-foot flood stage, before also receding Sunday evening.
Up river just a few miles, the Fish River continues to flow over Soldier Pond Road in Wallagrass where the Fish River Bridge has been impassable since Monday. All residents of Bouchard Street in the Soldier Pond area of Wallagrass evacuated their homes earlier this week due to flooding.
The causeway connecting Beaulieu Road to Pelletier Island in St. Agatha also remained closed, as 8-10 inches of water from Long Lake inundated the causeway. At least half of the residents of Pelletier Island chose to evacuate their homes over the past few days because of the causeway closure.
The weather service also issued an alert Friday warning Mainers not to underestimate the dangers of the cold water even as air temperatures reach into the 60s on Saturday. The NWS stated that the current 40-45 degree temperature of lakes and rivers “can quickly cause cold water shock to anyone immersed in the water.”
With water temperatures below 50 degrees, the chance of immediate incapacitation due to cold shock is extremely high,” according to the statement that warns anyone using boats, canoes or kayaks to be extremely cautious.
Meanwhile, Dumont said Friday that an end to the wet weather and flood threats might be in sight.
“It looks like the beginning of next week will be high and dry,” he said.
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- All residents of Bouchard Street in the Soldier Pond area of Wallagrass evacuated their homes this week due to flooding from the nearby Fish River. This vacated home stands surrounded by water on Thursday, May 3. (Jessica Potila)
