Caribou, Maine – A rapid temperature crash Saturday evening could turn wet roads into sheets of ice along US-1 and Route 11 within hours, creating hazardous travel conditions across northern Maine before nightfall.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, temperatures will surge well above freezing Saturday afternoon, with many communities climbing past 40 degrees. That brief warmup will melt existing snowpack and leave standing water on roadways from Presque Isle to Houlton. An arctic front will then sweep south late Saturday, sending temperatures plunging below freezing quickly after sunset.
Snow showers and brief squalls may develop along the front, reducing visibility and producing a quick coating in spots. The bigger concern arrives as temperatures fall sharply into the teens and single digits Saturday night. Any melted snow will refreeze, creating black ice on I-95, Route 161 and secondary roads across Aroostook County.
By Sunday night, bitter cold settles in statewide. Wind chills could range from 15 to 25 degrees below zero across northern and eastern Maine, increasing the risk of frostbite in as little as 30 minutes. Gusty winds will make it feel even colder in open areas.
Drivers should avoid unnecessary travel late Saturday evening, slow down on untreated roads and keep emergency supplies in vehicles. Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items and check heating systems before the cold intensifies.
Additional advisories are likely as the arctic air deepens into Sunday night.
