A refreshing end to the week High pressure moves into the region for Friday with dry air to make it comfortable. The airmass moving in could be dry enough that relative humidity levels may range from 35% or less, which would elevate already high fire dangers up another level. Even for those areas that picked up rainfall on Thursday, it doesn't reduce the threat by much.  The latest Drought Monitor has picked up on the flash drought that much of the area is experiencing. Dry well reports are increasing. Most of the rivers are at well-below normal or trickle stages of flow. The dryness of the soil moisture level is deep. Even if by some chance something tropical ends up in the area, the impact of this dry spell is likely to hang on for a while. Given the bone-dry conditions, heavy rainfall is no good as it will simply run off into brooks, streams, rivers, and basements, and could pose a flash flooding risk. Thunderstorms are also undesirable. Many of the wildfires in Canada have occurred due to lightning strikes. With dry air arriving in earnest next week, coastal sea breezes will be problematic for flammable materials, and gas/charcoal grills and smokers. Some towns are outright banning the burning of any type, and water use restrictions are going into effect as well. Drought Monitor is looking for reports from the public. If you are experiencing stress from the drought, please click and report it here. Has your well run dry, or is it running low? Please report it to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Drought Task Force. Click and report it here. Next chance for showers and storms comes Sunday Temperatures and humidity levels creep back up again on Saturday, and increase more on Sunday. A cold front brings the risk of showers and storms on Sunday, which may be the only chance for rainfall in the next week, unless ideas on Erin change.  Sunday 6 AM (10z) to Monday Midnight (04z) - The ideas remain consistent that the better chance for rainfall is there for the north and east, with a lesser chance to the west, and southern areas may not get much of anything. There is a risk of storms due to the elevated humidity, which supplies fuel. Storms could contain gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. This forecast will be monitored and updated over the weekend.  Temperatures and outlook through ThursdayLooking into next week, all eyes will be on Erin as the storm makes its way northward. From this vantage point, the shorelines appear to be the area of impact in the form of high surf, beach erosion, and dangerous rip currents, which will arrive on Wednesday and linger through Friday. After temperatures briefly rebound on Sunday, cooler-than-normal temperatures are on tap through midweek, with humidity levels on the dry side for the foreseeable future.  The PTW Weather Wall updates 24/7 Your financial support is needed and appreciated for 2026 |
Mike Haggett
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