Caribou, Maine – Arctic air is surging into Maine, bringing a prolonged stretch of dangerous cold that will worsen through the week and peak this weekend with some of the coldest conditions of the season.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, gusty winds today are driving wind chills below zero across northern Maine this afternoon, with Downeast areas dropping below zero by this evening. Overnight wind chills are expected to fall to 20 to 25 below zero across the north, with values near 10 below zero in the Bangor region and along the Downeast coast.
While winds ease slightly Wednesday and temperatures moderate a bit through Thursday, the break will be brief. Another surge of Arctic air is expected late week, sending temperatures sharply lower again Friday into the weekend. High temperatures Saturday may remain below zero across northern Maine, while Downeast communities struggle to climb just above zero. Increasing winds will make conditions even more dangerous, with wind chills potentially ranging from 25 to 35 below zero across much of the state.
Cities including Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Kent, Millinocket, Bangor, and Bar Harbor will all feel the effects, with frostbite possible on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes or less. Officials urge residents to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, limit time outdoors, and monitor vulnerable neighbors.
Extreme cold will persist into the weekend, and additional cold weather advisories or warnings are likely as conditions continue to deteriorate.
