CARIBOU, Maine — Spring starts on Friday; apparently the weather forecast didn’t get the memo.
Last night’s predicted snowfall of 8-10 inches and this weekend’s anticipated snow or rain showers will bookend Spring’s arrival, and meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Caribou have been painting a pretty chilly picture for the rest of March.
“Unfortunately, there are no real big warm-ups or return to spring any time soon,” said NWS Meteorologist Maureen Hastings on Tuesday afternoon. Hastings’ outlook for the end of March showed below normal temperatures and anticipated rain or snow every few days — rain or snow depending on the corresponding temperatures, of course.
The silver lining of March’s cold and precipitous outlook is that the below normal temperatures are based on an average, Hastings explained, and the region could see warmer days around normal temperatures.
Monday was a bit on the breezy side, for instance, but temperatures topped 36 degrees.
Hastings used the warmer weather as an opportunity to spend some time outside checking snow depths, and recommends folks with the winter blahs take advantage of the above-freezing days when they can.
“It’s nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine — if they get a chance to do that, I recommend it,” she said.
Hastings’ Winter/Spring Potential Flooding Outlook report, available at www.weather.gov/car, stated that while mid-March did have a bit of spring like weather, the mild spell will be brief and followed by a return to colder temperatures.
Aroostook’s snowpack is around 18-26 inches in the southern and central areas, while northern Aroostook has between 10-18 inches. Higher elevations in the northern Maine Woods have around two feet of snow.
Hastings’ report also identified that the NWS is still monitoring ice jams, including those on the Aroostook River — one in Washburn through Crouseville, one between Presque Isle and Caribou and another downstream of Fort Fairfield. Potential for future flooding due to ice jams is slightly above normal, according to the report.
“It is important to remember that very heavy rainfall can bring flooding at any time of the year, even in areas that don’t have a significant snowpack,” she reminded.
