Caribou, Maine – Snow will begin impacting northern Maine roads by early Thursday morning, with slushy travel developing along I-95 and Route 1 as temperatures hover near freezing.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, snow will spread across central and northern areas by Thursday morning while rain develops Downeast, including Bangor, Bar Harbor, and Machias. A few inches of accumulation are possible from Fort Kent to Presque Isle before a rain mix moves in Thursday night, increasing the risk of slick transitions during the evening commute.
Drivers in Aroostook County, including Caribou and Houlton, should prepare for reduced visibility and snow-covered secondary roads through midday Thursday. Farther south, cities like Augusta, Rockland, and Ellsworth will see mostly rain, limiting accumulation but creating ponding on roadways. Crews along I-95 from Bangor northward may treat bridges and overpasses where temperatures dip closer to freezing.
An Arctic cold front arrives by Friday morning, sharply dropping temperatures and setting up a flash-freeze risk on untreated surfaces. By Saturday morning, wind chills are expected to plunge to between -17°F in northern towns like Clayton Lake and near 0°F along the Downeast coast. Gusty winds will push daytime highs only into the 20s north and near 30°F south.
Residents should limit unnecessary travel Thursday morning, charge devices ahead of the cold snap, and prepare for rapidly changing road conditions into Friday. Additional advisories may be issued as the Arctic air settles in through early next week.
