Houlton, Maine Weather Forecast Discussion

255
FXUS61 KCAR 262238
AFDCAR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
638 PM EDT Fri Sep 26 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross the region early tonight. High
pressure will build in from the west on Saturday cresting over
the area late in the day. High pressure will move east of the
region Saturday night. A weak cold front will cross the area
Sunday. High pressure will build south of the area Monday then
slide east of the region Tuesday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Update...
A cold front currently crossing northern Maine will cross the
remainder of the forecast area early tonight, then exit across
the Gulf of Maine overnight while high pressure builds east
toward the region. An upper trof also exits early tonight.
Expect partly cloudy skies along with isolated/scattered showers
early tonight, with skies then clearing overnight. Patchy fog
will also develop later tonight. Low temperatures tonight will
generally range from the upper 30s to around 40 north, though
locally colder temperatures are also possible in the normally
coldest northwest valley locations. Low temperatures Downeast
will range from the upper 40s to around 50. Have updated to
adjust for current conditions along with expected overnight
temperatures and clouds. Have also let the Small Craft Advisory
expire with this update.
Previous Discussion...
A little bit of a challenge tonight as 850mb temps cool there
is clearing skies but some clouds may remain. At the same time
the pressure gradient never truly weaken which will keep the air
stirring in many locations. However, valley locations across
the northern 1/2 of the CWA may decouple and see rapid cooling.
Did opt to mix in some NBM 50th percentile temps in locations
that may decouple. This means we could see some 30s producing
patchy to areas of frost in the North Woods mainly along and
west of Route 11 in Northern Maine. The Frost/Freeze program has
ended in these locations. Elsewhere in Northern Maine, expect
upper 30s to low 40s where decoupling does take place and low to
mid 40s where it does not occur. Central Highlands to Bangor
Region including east to Danforth looking at mid to upper 40s
tonight. Downeast will be the warmer spots falling back into the
low 50s.
Tomorrow a 1016mb sfc high once again, theme of the pattern the
last 90 days, will drift SW of the area. Expect another dry day
and beautiful sunshine. Winds will be light W-NW downslope off
the Longfellows which means cooler temps north and warmer temps
south. Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s for the Bangor Region,
Upper Penobscot Valley south to the Downeast. Across Northern
Maine and Central Highlands expecting only low to mid 60s.
Tomorrow night another tricky one with the high drifting south
over the Gulf of Maine and then eventually east of Georges Bank
expecting increasing upper level clouds as return flow starts.
Expecting some locations across the north to dip back into the
30s and low 40s with intially clear skies and light winds.
Elsewhere, generally across the Highlands to the Downeast
expecting 50-55F temps. A weak cold front will approach the NW
zones by early morning and might see a few isolated showers.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
We will be on the southern end of a weak cold front trailing south
from low pressure over Hudson bay on Sunday. The gradient between
this low to the north and higher pressure to the south will bring a
gusty west wind. A couple brief light showers may stray across
northern areas around midday as the cold front sweeps through.
Sunday night will be mostly clear as high pressure builds in behind
the cold front. Only moderately cooler air will follow the front
with lows Sunday night from the mid 40s north to near 50 south.
High pressure will build south of the area Monday as a weak surface
trough of low pressure slides south through Quebec. This will bring
a mostly sunny day, perhaps becoming partly cloudy over the far
north late in the day. It will be breezy and mild with highs above
70 across most of the area.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
A cold front will cross the area Monday night ushering in moderately
cooler air with lows generally in the 40s across the area. The
gradient will probably be strong enough for at last a light breeze
to continue overnight.
High pressure building down from central Canada and tracking south
across Hudson bay on Tuesday will continue pushing cooler and drier
air in from Eastern Canada. The cooler air pushing in aloft will mix
down some strong westerly winds aloft to bring a gusty northwesterly
breeze on Tuesday.
Cold high pressure building down from the northwest will bring a
cold night Tuesday night. Lows will likely drop below freezing in
the northwest and down into the low 40s Downeast Tuesday night.
Strong Canadian high pressure will continue to slowly approach from
Hudson Bay on Wednesday bringing brisk and chilly conditions and
some stratocumulus clouds mixed with sunshine, likely more
cloudy north and more sunny Downeast. Highs in most areas will
only be in the 50s with a few 60s over southern Downeast areas.
This will be followed by a cold night Wednesday night with lows
below freezing in the northwest and in the upper 30s Downeast. A
strong gradient along the eastern edge of high pressure may
continue to bring a breeze overnight.
High pressure dropping west, then southwest of the area will support
upper ridging building in from the west late in the week. This will
bring dry weather with some moderation in temperatures. Highs
Thursday should approach 60 and highs Friday will reach the mid
60s.
&&
.AVIATION /22Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
NEAR TERM: Variable conditions with any fog both later tonight
and later Saturday night. Otherwise, VFR tonight through
Saturday night. Isolated/scattered showers possible this
evening. West/northwest winds 5 to 10 knots tonight.
West/northwest low level wind shear at KFVE and KCAR between
06z and 12Z. West/northwest winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up
to around 20 knots Saturday. Variable winds 5 to 10 knots,
becoming south Saturday night.
SHORT TERM:
Sunday...VFR Gusty W wind around 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday night...VFR. Light W wind.
Monday...VFR. Gusty W wind around 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday...VFR. Gusty NW wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday night...VFR. Light NW wind.
Wednesday...VFR. Gusty N wind around 10 mph.
&&
.MARINE...
NEAR TERM: The Small Craft Advisory has been allowed to expire
with this update. Winds/seas expected to remain below small
craft advisory levels tonight through Saturday night.
SHORT TERM:
Winds are expected to remain below SCA through next week. Long
period swell from Hurricane Humberto may build to 5 ft Tuesday
night and 6 to 7 ft Wednesday, then slowly subside toward the
end of the week.
&&
.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
Near Term...Norcross/Sinko
Short Term...Bloomer
Long Term...Bloomer
Aviation...Norcross/Sinko/Bloomer
Marine...Norcross/Bloomer

NWS CAR Office Area Forecast Discussion