3-Day Outlook: Wed. June 19 – Fri. June 21
The summer solstice occurs at 4:51 pm Thursday, June 20.
Strong high pressure at the surface to our south and aloft will bring sunny, hot, and humid conditions for Juneteenth with highs rising close to (or equaling/exceeding) near record levels in the mid-to-upper 90s (for Fort Kent, the record high for the date is 94 set in 2020). Maximum heat indices (“feels like”) look to be in the 100 to 105° range for many locations today.
Remember to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not leave children or animals in vehicles.
Enough instability aloft will allow for some afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms across the Valley. Tonight will see partly cloudy skies and a chance of isolated showers/thunderstorms with temperatures only dropping into the mid-70s (in Fort Kent, the warmest overnight temperature for the date was 65, set on June 20, 2020).
A cold front approaches Thursday morning and moves through in the afternoon with scattered showers and thunderstorms for the SJV, with locally heavy downpours possible. Daytime highs peak in the mid-80s with partly cloudy skies and lows falling into the mid-50s Thursday night.
A cooler air mass settles in Friday as high pressure north of the Great Lakes slides east across the region into Saturday. Friday looks to be partly cloudy and cooler with highs only reaching the upper 70s with much less humidity in Fort Kent and surrounding locations. For Friday night, partly cloudy skies are expected with a low falling into the lower 50s.
Daily Summary
Today: Mostly sunny this morning, then partly sunny with scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Hot with highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Heat index readings this upper 90s this late morning and afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Heat index readings in the mid 90s early early in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny with a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid-50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the mid-70s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
4-7 Day Outlook: Fri. June 21 – Mon. June 24
Saturday features mostly partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of afternoon showers for Fort Kent and vicinity. Highs in the upper 70s with partly cloudy skies and isolated showers possible Saturday night as low pressure and associated fronts approach from the Great Lakes region. Lows are expected to be in the mid-50s.
A warm front ahead of the Great Lakes low brings a chance of showers Sunday with highs in the low 70s. Steady rain is likely as the associated cold front moves through Sunday night/early Monday with isolated thunder possible after midnight into Monday afternoon/evening. Scattered showers linger behind the front Monday night as lows fall into the middle 50s
Showers are likely Monday along with a chance of isolated thunderstorms for the Valley. Highs in the upper 70s with mostly cloudy skies are expected. Monday night, a chance of showers with lows in the middle 50s are anticipated.
Tuesday looks mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers. Highs reach the lower 80s. Tuesday night, partly cloudy skies are expected with lows in the upper 50s.
Daily Summary
Saturday: Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid-50s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Sunday: Cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then rain likely in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Sunday Night: Rain likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Monday: Rain likely. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
8-14 Day Regional Climate Tends: Tue. June 25 – Mon. July 1
Above normal temperatures / Near 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.
