Caribou, Maine – A slow-moving cold front is bringing much-needed relief to northern Maine, clearing out smoke and boosting air quality from Caribou to Fort Kent by late Monday. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the National Weather Service in Caribou, ozone levels are expected to remain GOOD statewide on Tuesday, while particle pollution is now GOOD in the north and MODERATE for much of central, coastal, and southern Maine.
The improvement is most noticeable in the northern border counties, where skies are already clearer and particle pollution values have dropped into the GOOD range. However, smoke and poor air quality linger from the Central Highlands southward through the Downeast region, with MODERATE levels forecast through Tuesday. A cold front moving southward will gradually push remaining smoke toward the coast, but forecasters note it may take until Tuesday night for conditions to fully improve from Bangor to Bar Harbor and Eastport.
Residents in areas south of the cold front—especially from Bangor to the Mid-Coast—should limit prolonged outdoor activity, particularly those with asthma or heart and lung conditions. Windows should remain closed and air filters used where possible until conditions improve. Officials urge all Mainers to monitor for any new advisories, as coastal areas could see slower improvements if winds shift.
The air quality alert remains in effect statewide through Monday night, with further updates expected by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
