Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
Issued by NWS Caribou, ME
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326 FXUS61 KCAR 040452 AFDCAR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 1252 AM EDT Thu Jul 4 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will cross the region overnight through early Thursday. A weak cold front will stall along the Downeast coast Thursday night. The front then slowly lifts back north Friday into Saturday. Another weak cold front will begin to cross the region Sunday then will move east of the region on Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... Update... A warm front will cross the region overnight with scattered/numerous showers across northern areas, isolated/scattered showers across central areas. An isolated shower is possible Downeast late. Otherwise, expect mostly cloudy skies north with partly cloudy skies Downeast. Low temperatures will range from around 60 to the lower 60s north, with upper 50s interior Downeast and mid to upper 50s along the Downeast coast. Have updated to adjust for current conditions along with expected overnight temperatures, clouds and shower chances. Previous Discussion... PoPs were adjusted for Independence Day to account for significant dry air aloft that will be moving in from the west- southwest by mid morning, which despite some CAPE should inhibit convective development with a strong subsidence inversion in the low levels and minimal synoptic scale lifting mechanisms. Moisture trapped under the inversion should still be enough for scattered to possibly broken stratocumulus, but trended sky cover down slightly as well with this update, especially across central portions of the forecast area. By Thu mid to late morn, most of whats left of any organized shwr activity will move ENE of the FA as a weak upper s/wv pivots out. This will leave the FA with ptly to msly cldy skies. High temps Thu Aftn will reach arnd 80 deg F ovr low trrn lctns inland from the coast, a few deg cooler than Tdy due to cld cvr and any shwrs, but with more humid air, may feel more uncomfortable. At least there will be a srly breeze. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... The low pressure to the north will swing the cold front through the region Thursday night. QPF models are in some disagreement with the amount of rain showers expected throughout the night. However, after midnight, the model show that the majority of rain showers will be out of the region with the cold front. With ridging out over the waters and the low pressure to the north, return flow should push the marine layer onshore. The question will be how far north the fog will move in with the blocking surface high pressure moving in. In addition, decided to include light patchy drizzle for the coast with the upper air soundings showing a moist column through the inversion. By Friday, high pressure should linger through the morning with the next low pressure intensifying over the Great Lakes. By the afternoon, clouds should start to increase with the advancement of the warm front moving across the waters, then north across the region. Models indicate some instability with the frontal lift and daytime heating, so isolated thunderstorms are possible. By Friday night, showers should decrease with the warm front moving north, but patchy fog will increase, especially across the south. After midnight, shower chances will increase again with the low pressure system moving from W to E. By Saturday, the low will start to weaken as the rain showers progress. As the cold front moves in by the afternoon, instability is expected to increase. In addition, as of this update, models show PWAT values near 2 inches, which gives concern of localized heavy rain, especially with any thunderstorms that develop. Temps expected to be near normal. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... The low pressure system is expected to exit to the E by Saturday night with showers decreasing behind the system after midnight. Very weak upper level ridging approaches Sunday and remains in the region through Monday night. The next system is expected by Tuesday, though the models are in disagreement with the low pressure system track and timing as well as the cold front to follow into mid week. Near normal temps expected. && .AVIATION /04Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NEAR TERM: Generally VFR, except a period of MVFR likely at KFVE and possible at KCAR/KPQI early to mid Thursday morning with scattered to numerous showers. Southwesterly low level wind shear expected overnight into early Thursday morning. South winds 5 to 10 knots with gusts to around 15 knots overnight. South/southwest winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots Thursday. SHORT TERM: Thursday night...VFR/MVFR early. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms north early. Variable conditions with any thunderstorms. A slight chance of showers Downeast early. Generally VFR late with showers ending. However, variable conditions with any fog Downeast. South/southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming variable. Friday through Friday night...Generally VFR. Slight chance/chance of mostly afternoon and overnight showers. However, variable conditions Downeast with any fog early Friday then again Friday night. Variable winds 5 to 10 knots. Saturday...VFR/MVFR early, then MVFR/IFR. A chance of showers. Slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Variable conditions with any fog early. Southeast/south winds around 10 knots. Saturday night...MVFR/IFR, occasional LIFR, with showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Variable conditions with fog. South/southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Sunday...MVFR/IFR, occasional LIFR, in the morning. VFR/MVFR during the afternoon. A chance of showers. Variable conditions with morning fog. Variable winds 5 to 10 knots. Sun night-Mon...VFR, with brief MVFR/IFR in patchy fog Sun night. Light and variable winds. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: Winds/seas below small craft advisory levels overnight through Thursday. SHORT TERM: Winds and seas expected to remain below SCA conditions through this period. Reduced visibilities in nighttime patchy fog expected. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...None. && $$ Near Term...Norcross/MStrauser/VJN Short Term...LaFlash Long Term...LaFlash Aviation...Norcross/MStrauser/VJN/LaFlash Marine...Norcross/LaFlash