Caribou, ME – A bitter wind cuts across northern Maine this morning as the region awakens to temperatures near 7°F and wind chills below -10°F. The air is sharp and still, with faint snow mist drifting under the streetlights — a sign of what’s to come as winter tightens its hold on Aroostook County.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, Monday stays mostly cold and partly sunny with highs only near 9°F, but the chill is deceiving — wind gusts up to 23 mph will drive apparent temperatures near -14°F through the morning. A gradual warming trend arrives by Tuesday, though highs still struggle to reach 15°F before another round of light snow develops Tuesday night.
By Wednesday, a stronger disturbance brings 40–60% snow chances across northern Maine, with several hours of steady snowfall expected from afternoon into the evening. Roads along Route 1 and U.S. 95 could turn slick as fresh accumulation combines with blowing snow and falling visibility. Drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling after dusk.
Temperatures briefly rise into the upper 20s Wednesday before dropping again late week, with highs only in the 20–22°F range by Saturday and Sunday. Another light snow system could brush the region by Thursday night, marking a steady start to the long Maine winter.
Meteorologists also note that long-range models show a surge of Arctic air expanding across the Great Lakes and New England between December 11–17, possibly setting up one of the coldest December stretches in recent years.
