NWS Caribou, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
642
FXUS61 KCAR 202359
AFDCAR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
759 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
-7:59PM UPDATE...00z TAF Update. See aviation section below.
Made minor changes to POPs to account for radar trends. Issued
an SPS for slippery travel across the Interior Downeast, Bangor
Region into Southern Aroostook County as roads cool.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Period of light snow tonight across the north and snow and
rain mix Downeast tonight may result in some minor travel
difficulties.
2) Snow for the south Sunday through Monday, impacting the
Monday morning commute.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Period of light snow tonight across the north and snow and
rain mix Downeast tonight may result in some minor travel
difficulties.
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
A weak and fast moving area of low pressure will track rapidly
eastward across New York State late this afternoon and then
quickly east of the Gulf of Maine Saturday morning. This system
will bring a period of light snow across the north this evening
and a mix of snow and rain for the Bangor region and Downeast
areas. Snowfall across the region tonight through early Saturday
morning will generally range from one to two inches away from
the coast. The main impacts will be the potential for some
slushy roadways this evening into the overnight hours.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Snow for the south Sunday through Monday,
impacting the Monday morning commute.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
A surface low pressure system is expected to develop over the
Great Lakes and move towards the region on Sunday. The main
question will be the direction of the track of the low due to
influence of the high pressure to the north. If the track of the
system follows the deterministic models, then the snow amounts
should be higher Downeast with less north. However, if the track
follows the trend and ensemble models, the track should be
further to the south. This will increase the dry air ahead of
the low and produce less snow. Nevertheless, snow is expected
for both Sunday and Monday, with possible travel difficulties
Monday morning.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Tonight...VFR north with MVFR/IFR south. -SN continues at all
sites except BHB where its -RA. Expecting precip to end
overnight and turn to VCSH. Sites becoming IFR cigs. Light and
variable winds.
Saturday...MVFR early then becoming VFR. N wind 10 to 15 kt
with G20 kt.
Saturday Night...VFR. Light N to Nw wind.
Sunday-Sunday night...VFR north, MVFR/IFR Downeast terminals in
snow. N 5-10kts northern terminals and S 5-10kts Downeast on
Sunday, becoming NNE 5-10kts Sunday night.
Monday...MVFR/IFR in snow Downeast terminals, mainly VFR north.
N 5-15kts.
Monday night-Tuesday...VFR. NNW 5-10kts.
Wed...MVFR/IFR in snow. W winds 5-15 kts.
&&
.MARINE...
A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the outer waters
through early Sunday morning, and for the intracoastal waters
through Saturday evening.
Small craft conditions return after midnight Sunday night with
NNE winds around marginal gales Monday morning and into the
evening hours. Seas climb to between 6 to 9 feet on Monday and
remain elevated before dropping to near/below SCA levels Tuesday
afternoon. Wind gusts diminish below 25kts Tuesday morning.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Sunday for ANZ050-051.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Saturday for ANZ052.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...TWD/ARL/JS
AVIATION...TWD/ARL
NWS CAR Office Area Forecast Discussion
