St. John Valley weather for April 5-11, 2023

3-Day Outlook: Wednesday, April 5-Friday, April 7

Clouds will increase today as high pressure moves east and a low pressure area over the Plains tracks towards James Bay in Canada drawing a warm front across the Saint John Valley tonight into Thursday. Precipitation begins as snow in the early afternoon then changes to sleet and freezing rain overnight then to rain Thursday morning before tapering to rain showers Thursday afternoon that end in the evening behind a cold front that will move through the region Thursday evening. Gusty west winds are expected Thursday night and Friday.

The National Weather Service in Caribou has issued a winter weather advisory in effect from 1 pm Wednesday afternoon through 11 am Thursday morning. Mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 6 inches across much of the County, sleet accumulations around one half of an inch, and ice accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch. Area residents should plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes.

Mostly cloudy to partly sunny skies are expected Friday as high pressure builds into the region on blustery west winds gusting as high as the 35-to-40-mph range. A slight chance for snow showers is possible Friday afternoon. Partly cloudy and windy conditions are expected Friday night int Saturday.

Daily Summary

Today: Snow, mainly after 2 p.m. High near 31. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight: Snow before 1 a.m., then snow and sleet between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., then freezing rain and sleet after 2 a.m. Low around 25. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Thursday: Freezing rain before 11 a.m., then rain likely. High near 47. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: A slight chance of snow showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

4- to 7-Day Outlook: Saturday, April 8-Tuesday, April 11

High pressure will dominate the Valley’s weather Saturday through Monday morning with partly cloudy and breezy northwest winds Saturday and partly cloudy skies Saturday night. Partly cloudy skies Sunday into Monday morning will give way to partly sunny skies Monday afternoon as a weak disturbance moving over the top of the high pressure ridge brings a slight chance for rain showers Monday night. A warm front will lift toward the region late Tuesday with partly sunny skies continuing across the St. John Valley with a chance for rain showers across the region Tuesday night.

Daily Summary

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low near 35.

8- to 14-Day Trends: Tuesday, April 11-Monday, April 17

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.