textproduct: Caribou

WHAT HAS CHANGED

- Heat Advisory has expired for Northeast Aroostook.

- A Beach Hazards Statement has been issued for coastal portions of Hancock and Washington Counties from 8 AM til 8 PM Friday.

- Air Quality Alert issued for northern and central areas til midnight Sunday night.

- Air Quality Alert issued for Downeast areas from midnight tonight til midnight Sunday night.

KEY MESSAGES

1) Hot temperatures and high humidity through Friday will lead to hazardous heat, with little reprieve at night.

2) Thunderstorms remain possible this evening through Saturday. A conditional threat for severe storms exists.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...Hot temperatures and high humidity through Friday will lead to hazardous heat, with little reprieve at night.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION... A very mild night again tonight with lows generally ranging from around 70 to the lower 70s. In fact, Caribou could be in jeopardy of setting an all-time (any day of the year) record high minimum temperature. The record to beat is 71.

Hot again Friday, though ever so slightly not quite as hot as today north of Bangor. Along the coast, Friday should actually be the warmest day, with highs in the lower to mid 90s all the way to the immediate coast. The decent westerly breeze with a slight offshore component will limit and cooling influence from the Gulf of Maine. Still quite muggy, but dewpoints falling into the mid to upper 60s in the afternoon should keep most places at Heat Advisory criteria rather than extreme heat criteria.

Temperatures and humidity will be lower Saturday behind a cold front. Even still, heat indices will reach the upper 80s and possibly low 90s over the Bangor and Downeast regions which, while below advisory criteria, still warrants concerns over heat risk during the holiday weekend. Heat indices fall a bit more into Sunday.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Thunderstorms remain possible this evening through Saturday. A conditional threat for severe storms exists.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening, ending after sunset. A cold front will begin to approach later Friday, which could help support an afternoon or evening thunderstorm across mostly northern areas. The cold front will cross the region Saturday helping support shower and thunderstorm chances across the forecast area.

AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Tonight...Patchy smoke may bring brief vsby reductions to northern terminals through 03z. Otherwise, VFR. West/southwest winds around 5 knots.

Friday...Variable conditions with any afternoon thunderstorms across mostly northern areas. Otherwise, VFR. West winds 10 to 15 knots, with gusts up to 25 kts.

Friday night...Variable conditions with any evening thunderstorms across mostly northern areas. Otherwise, VFR. West winds 5 to 10 knots.

Saturday...Mainly VFR, becoming MVFR in light rain showers, and a potential for isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. W winds, becoming NW.

Saturday night-Sunday night...Mainly VFR with light NW winds around 5KT.

Monday...Mainly VFR. Light and variable winds.

Monday night...Occasional MVFR possible late Downeast. Otherwise, VFR. Light and variable winds.

Tuesday...Occasional MVFR possible Downeast early. Otherwise, VFR. Variable winds 5 to 10 knots.

MARINE

Winds/seas below small craft advisory levels tonight through Friday night.

Conditions below SCA criteria Saturday into Monday. Seas generally around 2-3ft Saturday into Monday. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms Saturday.

CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ME...Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT Sunday night for MEZ001>006-010-011-031-032. Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Friday for MEZ005-006-011-015>017- 029>032. Air Quality Alert from midnight tonight to midnight EDT Sunday night for MEZ015>017-029-030. Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT Friday through Friday evening for MEZ029-030. MARINE...None.