


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
618 FXUS61 KCAR 131759 AFDCAR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 159 PM EDT Wed Aug 13 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will slowly pass through Maine from northwest to southeast tonight and Thursday. High pressure then builds down from southeastern Canada through Friday night, and moves off to the east Saturday. A cold front will cross the area Sunday. High pressure builds in from the west Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... A northern stream trough slowly builds over the area through Thursday then exits to the east Thursday night. Ahead of the trough axis will some mainly scattered showers with isolated to scattered thunderstorms. Noting storm motion of 10-15kt, precipitable waters of 1 2/3 to 1 9/10 of an inch, and freezing levels around 13-14 kft supporting warm rain process, there is the potentially for locally heavy rainfall with any stronger convection. Given this, could see localized ponding of water in roadways/low lying areas in locations experiencing heavy rainfall. Shear is limiting factor for any strong to severe storms, with under 20kt of bulk shear not conducive for strong gusty winds and the high freezing level not very supportive of hail. Showers/thunderstorms will tapper off from NW to SE starting Thursday morning in the far NW to Thursday evening across far east Downeast Maine. Lows tonight should be from around 60 to the mid 60s. This is around 5-10 degrees above normal. Highs on Thursday should range from the middle 70s to middle 80s, generally about 10-15 degrees lower than today, except near the immediate coast, where it should be about the same. This is around 5 degrees above normal. Lows Thursday night should be around 5-10 degrees below normal. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... High pressure will crest over the region Friday night. This will mean clear skies and calm winds, ideal for radiational cooling. Thus, decided to go lower than NBM guidance for low temperatures Friday night. Some of the colder valleys in the North Woods could see lows in the upper 30s. Elsewhere, expect lows in the 40s from the Katahdin region northward, and 50s to the south. Return southerly flow sets up Saturday as the high retreats eastward. Warm air advection will ensure, with 850mb temperatures rising to 12-14C. With ample sunshine expect highs in the lower to mid 80s inland, and 70s at the coast. Low temperatures Saturday night will be in the 50s to near 60 degrees as clouds increase from north to south. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A cold front will cross the region from northwest to southeast Sunday. Ahead of the front, it will be warm and humid, though not to the extent of recent days. Showers and thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon as the front passes through. There remains uncertainty with the timing of the front and available instability. As a result, leaned on NBM guidance during this time. Also, confidence remains low on the strength of any thunderstorms. Much cooler and less humid behind the front early next week as Canadian high pressure builds in. Depending on decoupling, some colder northern valleys could see some patchy frost Monday night. However, confidence in this outcome remains low at this time. Regardless, below normal temperatures and mainly dry conditions for at least the first half of next week. && .AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... NEAR TERM: VFR to start the TAF period. A period of MVFR late tonight/early Thursday morning just ahead of the front at northern terminals and KBHB. KBHB should see IFR conditions develop this evening then LIFR/VLIFR conditions overnight. All terminals should improve to VFR by mid morning to around midday on Thursday. Winds become light and variable throughout tonight. Northern terminals should see NW winds increase to around 10kt and possibly become gusty towards the end of the TAF period. Thursday afternoon/night...VFR. NW-N winds G15-20KT possible in the afternoon/evening. SHORT TERM: Friday-Saturday Night..Mainly VFR. Light and variable winds Friday night, becoming S 5-15 kts Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday...Mainly VFR/MVFR. Brief IFR or lower possible PM with SHRA and isolated to scattered TSRA. S winds 5-10 kts early, switching to NW from north to south during the day. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: A relaxed pressure gradient over the waters should limit sustained winds to 10 kt or less and resulting seas to 3 ft or less through Thursday night. SHORT TERM: Winds and seas will remain below Small Craft Advisory levels through this weekend and into early next week. SW wind gusts could approach 20 kts on Sunday. && .CLIMATE... Record high temperatures are possible in some locations again today. Yesterday was the third straight day that the temperature at Caribou reached 90 degrees or higher. With the temperature once again expected to reach the 90 degree mark again today, that will tie the record for the most consecutive 90 degree days at Caribou. Record Highs temperatures for today Aug 13: Caribou: 92 in 2021, tied at 92 158pm this afternoon Houlton: 91 in 2021, forecast high 92 Millinocket: 95 in 2002, forecast high 93 Bangor: 95 in 2002, forecast high 91 && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for MEZ001-002-005- 006-011-015>017-031-032. Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT tonight for MEZ015>017- 029-030. MARINE...None. && $$ Near Term...Maloit Short Term...Clark Long Term...Clark Aviation...Maloit/Clark Marine...Maloit/Clark Climate...Maloit