Caribou, ME – Bitter cold and gusty winds are dominating the weather across northern Maine Monday, creating harsh conditions to start the week before a notable warm-up arrives later.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, Monday, December 15, will be a cold and windy day, with northwest wind gusts ranging from 25 to 35 miles per hour, and a few isolated gusts potentially higher. The strongest winds are expected between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., making outdoor conditions especially uncomfortable during the daytime hours.
High temperatures across northern Maine will struggle to climb, reaching only 12 to 17 degrees, while southern sections of the region may see highs closer to 15 to 20 degrees. When combined with the gusty winds, wind chill values will range from -5 to +5 degrees north, and 0 to 10 degrees south, posing a risk for frostbite with prolonged exposure.
Forecasters say skies will be partly cloudy Monday, with any early sunshine likely giving way to increasing clouds as the day goes on. Winds are expected to ease Monday night, but another cold night is ahead, with lows dropping to around 0 degrees north and 6 to 12 degrees south.
Looking ahead, a significant warming trend begins midweek. Temperatures are forecast to rise above freezing Wednesday and Thursday, setting the stage for a large storm system Thursday night into Friday. That system is expected to bring widespread rain falling on existing snowpack, increasing the risk for snowpack compaction and runoff. While flooding is not expected, strong winds Thursday night into Friday could lead to isolated power outages.
A sharp cold front late Friday may also cause a flash freeze as temperatures rapidly fall.
Residents are urged to dress warmly Monday, limit time outdoors, and stay weather-aware as conditions shift later this week.
