St. John Valley Weather, March 15-21, 2023

3-Day Outlook: Wednesday, March 15-Friday, March 17

Nor’easter in the Gulf of Maine will move out-to-sea over the course of the afternoon and evening hours. Dry air aloft is inhibiting snowfall across much of the Valley with only light returns on radar imagery at 10:15 am. 

The National Weather Service in Caribou notes that “For the north, lighter snow showers will continue to move across the area. These showers will have little moisture as the dry slot will make it difficult to produce precipitation.” Gusty north winds are expected to continue into the early evening with patchy blowing snow expected across open areas of the Valley. Presently, around 1 inch or less of snowfall is expected today and tonight.

Mostly to partly cloudy skies tonight will keep temperatures in the middle 20s for much of the County along with a few lingering isolated snow showers overnight as the low continues to move away and high pressure builds into the region. Thursday will see thinning clouds in the afternoon and partly cloudy skies overnight with light northwest winds. 

Low pressure over the Midwest will track into Canada to our west Friday into Saturday. The warm front associated with the system will lift towards the region Friday into Saturday bringing a chance for light snow across the SJV. Snow is expected to continue overnight into Saturday as a weak triple-point low develops and lifts across the state.

Daily Summary

Today: Snow showers. High near 33. North wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday: A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 8 p.m, then snow. Low around 30. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

4- to 7-Day Outlook: Saturday, March 18-Tuesday, March 21

Cloudy skies with snow Saturday morning give way to mostly cloudy skies with a rain/snow mix Saturday afternoon. Colder air moving in allows snow showers to continue Saturday night through Sunday. High pressure brings partly cloudy skies Monday and mostly sunny skies Tuesday with dry conditions and highs in the 30s with lows in the teens.

The Spring Equinox occurs at 5:20 p.m. EDT Monday, March 20.

Daily Summary

Saturday: Snow likely before noon, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 10 p.m, then a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Tuesday Night: Clear to partly cloudy, with a low around 12.
8- to 14-Day Trends: Wednesday, March 22-Tuesday, March 28 

Above normal temperatures / Above normal precipitation

Note: Computer model precision diminishes the further into the week the forecast projects. Check the Fiddlehead Focus for weather updates with more current information.

The Week Ahead is the work of UMFK Professor Joseph E. Becker based on personal weather station data, various computer forecast models, and information that the National Weather Service, NOAA, and other weather resources provide.