Caribou, ME – A bitter blast of Arctic air will grip northern and central Maine tonight, with the National Weather Service issuing a Cold Weather Advisory effective from 9 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Caribou and Gray, wind chills are expected to plummet to between 25 and 28 degrees below zero across Aroostook, Piscataquis, Somerset, Franklin, and Oxford Counties, as well as northern Coos County, New Hampshire.
The coldest conditions are expected after midnight, especially in valleys and open areas. The NWS warns that frostbite and hypothermia can develop in as little as 30 minutes on exposed skin. Residents are urged to bundle up, limit time outdoors, and ensure pets and livestock are protected from the cold.
Officials also advise caution with space heaters and generators, reminding residents to never use grills or generators indoors due to carbon monoxide risks.
Temperatures are forecast to rebound slightly by Friday afternoon, but another cold wave may follow over the weekend as winter conditions deepen across northern New England.
