St. John Valley weather for May 3-9, 2023
3-Day Outlook: Wednesday, May 3-Friday, May 5
The persistent broad upper-level low that has dominated the weather in the Northeast will move across Pennsylvania today then out to sea as it opens up into an upper wave. However, disturbances circulating around its broad expanse will bring clouds and a chance for showers over the course of the day into the evening.
Chilly temperatures are expected with the zero-level at about 3,000 feet, making for a cloudy, damp day in Fort Kent and vicinity (indeed the record minimum high temperature for May 3 is 40 degrees set in 1974). Today’s high tops out at about 45 degrees with east winds in the 10-11 mph range. Less than one-tenth an inch rainfall is expected.
Tonight, cloudy skies with scattered showers this evening will give way to isolated showers overnight. Low temperatures will dip into the mid-30,s meaning a few snow showers may mix in during the overnight period, particularly in the North Woods/Allagash with little/no accumulation expected. A northeast wind in the 6-to-8-mph range is anticipated.
Thursday will feature mostly cloudy skies with with breezy northeast winds 10 to 15 mph gusting in the 20-to-25-mph range. Showers will still be possible, with the Valley on the far northern boundary of the upper-level low’s circulation as it moves into the Atlantic. Rainfall totals in the couple-hundredths-of-an-inch range are possible. Thursday’s high will climb into the low 50s. Thursday night, mostly cloudy skies will become partly cloudy after midnight as high pressure begins to build down into the St. John Valley with any rain showers waning during the evening/overnight period. Thursday night’s low will be in the upper 30s with winds becoming north 5-8 mph overnight.
Friday, high pressure building down from Hudson Bay will bring mostly sunny skies to the region with a daytime high reaching the lower 60s. North winds will remain breezy around 11 mph with gusts to around 21 mph. Friday night looks partly cloudy with a low in the mid-30s and light northwest winds.
Daily Summary
Today: Showers likely, mainly before 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 45. East wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight: Scattered showers before 2 a.m., then isolated showers after 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday: Scattered showers, mainly after 8 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Scattered showers, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
4- to 7-Day Outlook: Saturday, May 6-Tuesday, May 9
Commencement Day at the University of Maine at Fort Kent Saturday will feature mostly sunny skies with a high in the mid-60s and a northwest wind in the 8-14 mph range. Saturday night will have mostly clear skies with a low in the lower 40s and light northwest winds.
High pressure will dominate the Saint John Valley’s weather through the early week period. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected with a high in the mid-60s Sunday, then a bit cooler with highs in the mid-50s Monday and upper 50s Tuesday. The overnight low falls into the lower 40s Sunday night and mid-30s Monday night.
Daily Summary
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
8- to 14-Day Trends: Wednesday, May 10-Tuesday, May 16
Above normal temperatures / Near 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.