Frontal boundary lingers to the south of the region A trough of low pressure will gradually move in from the west through the end of the week. This will bring in cooler temperatures, accompanied by a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will continue through Thursday. High pressure will build in on Friday, bringing dry weather and warmer temperatures into the weekend. Another frontal system is expected to approach early next week, bringing showers and warmer temperatures.  Thursday 6 AM to Friday Midnight - An upper-level system approaches from the west on Thursday as the 500-mb ridge begins to flatten, allowing shortwaves to move through the general flow. Scattered showers with the risk of a thunderstorm develop across western areas in the morning and move east. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than on Wednesday. Thursday night, a low-pressure system will move into the region, bringing a trough along with it. Light rain is expected, primarily in northern areas, with lower rainfall in the south. The week ends with a chance for an isolated shower/storm On Friday, the center of the upper-level trough will move through during the day, keeping the chance for rain and holding temperatures in the 70s. A bit of instability may lead to a few isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon, along with rain. High pressure will build in Friday night, pushing the disturbance out to the east. Rain showers are expected to end after midnight, although clouds will likely linger through the night and gradually clear by Saturday morning. The weekend appears dry and comfortable High pressure will be present across Maine throughout the weekend, bringing drier and quieter conditions. Low pressure will be located to the north, in Canada, moving east. This system will not pass through Maine, eliminating the chance for any significant events. Saturday appears to be dry, while a second shortwave trough may approach on Sunday, although the specific timing remains uncertain. There is a chance for thunderstorms late Sunday, depending on how the system progresses. Overall, it is a decent summer weekend, with near-normal temperatures and partly sunny skies. High temperatures are expected to range from the mid- to high 70s throughout the weekend. Showers with a storm threat returns early next week A cold front will be located to the northwest of Maine, moving across the area on Monday. This will bring the chance for showers throughout the region, starting in the north and the mountains before moving southeast. Strong wind gusts will accompany the incoming cold front, especially in the northern and mountainous regions. Southern areas will also experience breezy conditions, albeit slightly milder. Winds will generally flow from the south-southwest, contributing to the widespread breezy conditions.  Monday 8 AM (12z) to Tuesday 8 PM (00z Wednesday) - A band of precipitation will stretch from the Mid-Atlantic through New England and head to the east. The rain will be associated with a frontal boundary and an area of low pressure, bringing scattered showers with the risk of a storm across the region during the afternoon hours on Monday. Some places in the mountains may experience locally heavy rainfall at times. Although the rain will not be overly intense, it may arrive in waves, resulting in periods of damp and unsettled weather. The strong band of showers will move through by the morning hours on Tuesday. However, more scattered showers are expected in central Maine in the afternoon before clearing by nighttime. Temperatures and humidity climb midweek Temperatures are expected to rise heading into the middle part of next week. Wednesday and Thursday appear to be warm and muggy, with apparent (real-feel) temperatures ranging from 78°F to 88°F across the state. Specifically, on Wednesday, the southern and coastal areas of Maine may experience the warmest temperatures, reaching 90 degrees, while the northern and interior regions will remain slightly cooler. By Thursday, temperatures remain elevated but shift slightly northward, with widespread apparent temperatures of 75-84°F, and some pockets reaching the high 80s. While not significantly extreme, the heat will be noticeable and potentially uncomfortable for some. Temperature outlook through Tuesday Today's update prepared by Penn State graduate |
Mike Haggett
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