textproduct: Caribou

WHAT HAS CHANGED

- Extended winter storm warning several hours longer this morning due to temperatures staying below freezing longer and a burst of freezing rain moving through around 6-9am.

KEY MESSAGES

1) One last burst of freezing rain early this morning in Northern Maine, then temperatures rising above freezing in the north toward midday with precipitation ending. Much improved travel conditions toward midday.

2) Low pressure tracking across the area will bring some snow Friday night into Saturday with a few inches likely across central and northern areas. This will likely result in messy and slippery travel, especially Saturday morning.

3) A large storm tracking east from the Plains will bring snow into the area Sunday night, changing to rain from south to north early Monday. Strong southerly winds are likely Monday. This system has the potential to bring messy conditions early Monday morning and possible power outages Monday into Monday night.

4) Unseasonably cold weather expected through the middle of next week.

KEY MESSAGE 4.

Unseasonably cold weather expected through the middle of next week.

KEY MESSAGE 4 DESCRIPTION... Very cold air will overspread the region behind the big storm early next week with lows Tuesday night and again Wednesday night from near zero north to around 20 along the coast. Highs Wednesday will range from around 20 north to 30 along the coast. These temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal and near mid-winter norms. Wind chills early Wednesday morning will range from 10 below northwest to the single digits Downeast. Even though we will be nearing the spring equinox, we will have to dress in layers to avoid hypothermia.

AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Early This Morning into Today... IFR/LIFR for most places as of 6z. BGR/BHB are above freezing with intermittent light rain and drizzle, and fog, and LLWS. From HUL north it's still below freezing with intermittent freezing drizzle and freezing rain through about 12-14z. Then freezing precipitation ends in the north, and winds shift to the W areawide behind a cold front and increase to 10-15 kts with some higher gusts. The IFR/LIFR should also generally improve to VFR by about 16z today, and it should remain VFR into tonight and stay VFR through Friday. W winds around 10 kts Friday.

Friday night...MVFR early Friday evening dropping to IFR in lower clouds and some snow. Wind SE around 10 kt.

Saturday...IFR, possibly improving to MVFR over the south late. Wind W around 10 kt.

Saturday night...MVFR improving to VFR south. MVFR north. Wind W around 10 kt.

Sunday...VFR, possibly improving to MVFR late. W wind around 5 kt becoming S.

Sunday night...MVFR dropping to IFR. SE wind increasing to 10 to 15 kt.

Monday...LIFR. S wind 15 to 25 kt with higher gusts. Significant SSW wind shear at 2K ft.

MARINE

Gales early this morning don't seem to be materializing due to stable air, so replaced with small craft through tonight, for both seas and winds. Winds switch from S to NW later today as a cold front passes. Winds ease below small craft levels during the day Friday.

A gale will be needed Friday night through Saturday night for W wind gusts up to 40 kt. Winds will be light on Sunday. A gale and possibly a storm will be needed late Sunday night through Monday night. Seas up to 12 ft late Friday night through Saturday, dropping to 3 ft Sunday then rapidly building to 9 ft late Sunday night and possibly close to 18 ft Monday night in response to the strong south winds.

CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ME...Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM EDT this morning for MEZ001- 002. Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM EDT this morning for MEZ003>006. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Friday for ANZ050>052. ANZ052.