763
FXUS61 KCAR 312334
AFDCAR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
734 PM EDT Sat May 31 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure tracks north into Western Maine this evening. Low
pressure will continue north through Quebec Sunday and Monday.
High pressure will return Tuesday into Wednesday. A cold front
will approach from the north on Thursday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
7:30 PM Update...Forecast remains on track at this time. Based
on latest SPC mesoanalysis, the center of the low pressure
system impacting the region is over western Maine. This puts
northern and eastern Maine in a dry slot, save for some
scattered rain showers. Rain will fill back in later tonight,
especially in the North. This is due to precipitation wrapping
around the low. Updated the Aviation section to reflect the 00z
TAFs.

Previous Discussion...
A deep dry slot is currently pushing north through the forecast
area. However, the cold waters of the Gulf of Maine are enough
to maintain a very stable layer up through our coast, persisting
low level clouds across the forecast area, even where rain
ceases. This stable layer is also limiting the thunder threat
beyond a couple lightning strikes detected earlier. Moderate to
heavy rain across the north will move out to the north over the
next several hours as the dry slot proceeds further north.

The lapse in rainfall will not last long, as the back side of
the occluding low pressure will pull in from the west this
evening, bringing another round of rain showers throughout the
forecast area. Rainfall will likely be more on the light to
moderate side with these next showers, but another quarter of an
inch of rain is possible, especially across the north. Cloud
cover will remain across the entire area through the night,
while winds begin to increase.

On Sunday, gusty winds will mix down from a strong LLJ aloft,
with gusts up to 25 to 35 mph. Rain showers may linger across
the north through the day, but skies will begin to clear out
Downeast through the day. High temperatures will rebound some on
Sunday, with highs reaching into the low to mid 60s over most of
the forecast area.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Sunday night...The center of the low pressure system is
expected to move off to the north. Models are in good agreement
with the continuation of rain showers throughout the day, but
with the wrapping of moisture around the center, the rain could
be sporadic. Breezy SW winds should decrease throughout the
night and shift to the W with the exiting low.

Monday...Rain showers are expected to continue through the
morning across the north. The south will see less rain and skies
clearing by the afternoon. The clears clearing in the afternoon
will help boost temps in the south to the mid 60s while the
north should see upper 50s.

Monday night...The upper level trof starts to move off to the
east while the surface ridge builds in. Upper level model
soundings show the clouds sticking around through much of the
night. This will keep temps in the 40s with the cooler airmass
staying put.

Tuesday...The surface ridge should settle in with mostly clear
skies and warmer temps. Expect breezy SW winds and temps in the
70s.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
The surface ridge should remain in the region for Wednesday. The
approaching cold front should put the region into S flow. This
with ample sunshine, the warm airmass, and breezy S winds
should push temps into the 80s across the region with cooler
temps along the coast. Extend models show good agreement on the
cold front moving into the area by Thursday. Models have
indicating some instability with this front. Isolated
thunderstorms are possible at this time, but newer model runs
should increase confidence. Uncertainty in the model increases
by Thursday night to the end of the week. Decided to include
chance of rain for the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
NEAR TERM: VFR/MVFR at HUL, PQI, and CAR through 01-02z with a
break in the rain. Otherwise, mainly IFR/LIFR tonight at all
terminals with low cigs and -SHRA. LLWS possible, primarily
along the coast. However, not enough confidence to include in
00z TAFs.

Conditions will begin to gradually improve through the day on
Sunday, becoming MVFR in the north and VFR, potentially SKC, at
BGR/BHB through the day on Sunday. IFR conditions could persist
all day at FVE through the day with low cigs and VCSH. SE winds
5 to 10 kts will shift SW behind the low passage and increase to
10 to 15 kts with gusts 20 to 25 kts.

SHORT TERM: Sunday Night-Monday...MVFR north/VFR south. SW wind
around 10 kts with gusts around 20 kts.

Monday Night-Wednesday...Mainly VFR. SW wind 5-10 kts.

Thursday...MVFR in rain showers. Possible thunderstorms in the
north. SW winds becoming W 5-10 kts.

&&

.MARINE...
NEAR TERM: Seas around 5 ft this afternoon will build to 6 to
11 feet overnight. Southerly winds will continue to gust 25 to
30 kts tonight into the day on Sunday. Visibilities could be
reduced in rain and areas of fog tonight.

SHORT TERM: A Small Craft Advisory continues into Sunday night
due to winds and seas. Seas could remain at SCA levels into
Monday. Winds and seas will decrease below SCA levels by Monday
afternoon and remain for the rest of the period.

&&

.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Monday for ANZ050>052.

&&

$$


Near Term...AStrauser/Clark
Short Term...LaFlash
Long Term...LaFlash
Aviation...AStrauser/Clark/LaFlash
Marine...AStrauser/Clark/LaFlash