NWS Caribou, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
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FXUS61 KCAR 091035
AFDCAR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
635 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
- Increased cloud cover across northern areas this morning.
- Updated aviation discussion.
- A significant warmup with well above normal temperatures
expected early next week.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Low relative humidities combining with gusty winds today and
Sunday afternoons may lead to increased fire weather concerns
from Southern Aroostook County southward where there is no
snowpack.
2) Significant warmup likely early next week with temperatures
potentially reaching into the 60s.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Low relative humidities combining with gusty
winds today and Sunday afternoons may lead to increased fire
weather concerns from Southern Aroostook County southward where
there is no snowpack.
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
Afternoon relative humidity values today will generally range
from 30 to 35 percent across the region inland from the Downeast
coast. Higher humidity values will occur along the Downeast
coast with onshore winds. Southerly wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph
are expected today with the strongest winds during the
afternoon.
High pressure will build in from the west over the weekend
bringing another surge of dry air across the region. The high is
expected to pass to our south on Sunday as the airmass warms a
bit. Temperatures should climb into the upper 40s over the north
and lower 50s Downeast. How low dewpoints reach Sunday is still
uncertain at this time depending on how quickly high pressure
moves in. A slower low is likely to result in more northwest
flow that can more easily bring in dry air from over Canada
while a faster high will result in more W/SW flow which,
especially Downeast, will not be as dry due to it coming from
over the ocean. Currently expecting RH values to be in the low
to mid 30s across the north, in the upper 20s to low 30s across
the Bangor region and upper Penobscot Valley, and in the 40s and
50s over coastal Downeast. Winds, however, will be relatively
weak Sunday with gusts likely not exceeding 15 to 20 mph.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Significant warmup likely early next week with
temperatures potentially reaching into the 60s.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
A warm front is expected to pass through the area early Monday
potentially bringing a brief period of mixed precipitation to the
north before turning to all rain across the region as southerly
flow brings warm, moist air northward. Temperatures Monday are
expected to reach the 50s areawide with near 60 possible in the
Bangor region which is 5 to 10 degrees above normal.
Temperatures will be the warmest Tuesday and are expected to be
15 to 20 degrees above normal, possibly getting close to 70 in
the Bangor region.
&&
.AVIATION /10Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Today...VFR. South winds around 10 knots, increasing to 10 to
15 knots with gusts up to 20 to 25 knots.
Tonight...Generally VFR. However, local MVFR/IFR possible late
Downeast. South winds 10 to 15 knots. Southwesterly low level
wind shear.
Friday...Across northern areas, VFR early. MVFR/IFR during the
afternoon with a chance of rain. South/southwest winds around
10 knots, becoming northwest. Across Downeast areas, local
MVFR/IFR possible early. Otherwise, generally VFR with a slight
chance of rain late. South winds 10 to 15 knots.
Friday night...IFR over the north becoming MVFR late. MVFR
dropping to IFR across the south. Rain/snow north and rain
south. NW wind around 5 kt over the north and S around 5 kt
becoming NW across the south.
Saturday...VFR/MVFR over the north with rain/snow showers, becoming
VFR late. VFR across the south. NW wind around 10 to 15 kt.
Saturday night...VFR. NW wind around 5 kt.
Sunday...VFR. W wind 5 to 10 kt becoming SW late at southern
terminals.
Sunday night...VFR dropping to MVFR then IFR in rain/snow north
and rain south. S wind 5 to 10 kt.
Monday...IFR becoming MVFR over the south late in rain. S wind
10 to 15 kt.
&&
.MARINE...
A few wind gusts could approach small craft advisory levels
tonight. Otherwise, winds/seas generally expected to remain
below small craft advisory levels today through Friday.
Low end SCA conditions over the coastal waters Friday night and
early Saturday night. Gales likely on all waters Monday with
seas up to 10 ft on the coastal waters.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...SM/CN
AVIATION...SM/CN
NWS CAR Office Area Forecast Discussion
