Caribou, Maine – 25°F daytime highs are keeping roads icy and slowing travel through Saturday evening, as unseasonably cold air grips northern Maine.
Temperatures across Aroostook County will struggle to climb out of the 20s today despite sunshine, limiting snowmelt and allowing untreated roads, bridges, and secondary routes to remain slick. Areas including Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Kent, and Houlton will see highs between 22°F and 25°F, with colder conditions over higher terrain such as Mount Katahdin.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, the cold pattern will persist through Sunday, with overnight lows dropping into the single digits above zero across northern zones and teens along the Downeast coast, including Bangor and Bar Harbor. These temperatures increase the risk of refreezing each night, especially on untreated surfaces and rural roads.
Travel impacts are most likely during early morning and overnight hours when residual moisture freezes. I-95 through northern Maine, along with Routes 1 and 11, could see patchy black ice. Residents should use caution, reduce speeds, and allow extra stopping distance.
The cold also raises concerns for exposed plumbing and heating systems, particularly in older homes. Residents are urged to insulate pipes and ensure heating systems are functioning properly.
Conditions begin to moderate by Monday, with highs rising into the 40s north and 50s Downeast. Another system may bring a wintry mix to northern Maine by late Tuesday into Wednesday, while Bangor and coastal areas are more likely to see rain.
