Caribou, Maine – Drivers across northern Maine could encounter icy roads through the early morning hours Thursday, as freezing rain creates a glaze of ice that may coat bridges, sidewalks, and untreated roadways before temperatures climb above freezing.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, freezing rain across Aroostook County and surrounding northern communities could produce an additional 0.10 to 0.20 inches of ice between roughly 2 a.m. and mid-morning Thursday. Locations including Caribou, Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Van Buren, and Houlton are expected to see the greatest icing potential.
The precipitation is expected to taper off gradually between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., as temperatures rise above freezing from south to north. Even small ice accumulations could make untreated surfaces slippery, particularly during the morning commute along U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95.
Forecasters say another round of winter weather is already on the horizon. Snow is expected to spread across the region Friday evening and continue into Saturday, bringing moderate snowfall totals of 4 to 6 inches across central and northern Maine.
Additional precipitation may return Sunday night into Monday, beginning as snow before changing to rain from south to north early Monday morning.
Residents should allow extra travel time Thursday morning and monitor updates as additional winter weather approaches the region later this week.
