Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Fort Kent, ME

NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/
The Noreaster will continue to track across the New England coast and into the Gulf Of Maine tonight. The main concern for tonight will be the winds as the tightening pressure gradient on the north side of the low move in. Though the entire region will be breezy, coastal Downeast will see the majority of the higher winds. A Wind Advisory has been issued in this area for tonight into Friday morning. Due to the winds being offshore and mainly from the NE and the highest surge during low tide, coastal flooding is not a concern with this Noreaster. However, some guidance indicates possible overwash in some areas due to high waves, so caution is advised. Rain will continue throughout the night with high res QPF models indicating around a half inch of rainfall in the south.

By Friday, the Noreaster will turn NE with most high res models showing the center of the low moving across Washington county.
The NE flow will keep temps in the 40s across the region. Upper air model soundings show a very moist column with temps reaching to around freezing at 925mb. This indicates that snow is possible in the higher terrain above 1500 ft. Mt Katahdin could see up to 6 inches of snow by the end of the day. Winds will gradually decrease into the afternoon with the low passing.

SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/
By Friday evening the low will be occluded and vertically stacked which will result in the system slowing down as it moves north through the Downeast region and eventually through New Brunswick by the end of the weekend. The slow system motion will result in precipitation lingering throughout the weekend, especially towards the north, as moisture continues to wrap around the low. Some fog is also possible Friday and Saturday night along the Downeast region and North Woods once winds, and therefore mixing, decrease.

Northerly flow behind the departing low to the east will cause cooler air to flow into the region from Canada resulting in temperatures in the 40s for much of the area on Saturday. The cold air may also allow for some wet snow at the higher elevations Friday night. Some global ensemble members as well as the GFS and NAM want to bring snow into some of the lower elevations but did not have the confidence to add this into the forecast. A few flurries at the lower elevations cannot be ruled out though.

On Sunday, a few lingering showers persist over the north with skies remaining mostly cloudy. Temperatures should be warmer, likely reaching the low to mid 50s.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/
Behind the departing low, high pressure should begin to build in on Monday and persist through Tuesday. This should lead to mostly sunny skies and temperatures reaching the 60s on Monday and 70s Tuesday. Another low pressure system is expected to approach the region late next week but models are still expressing uncertainty regarding its intensity and timing.

AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/
NEAR TERM: VFR/MVFR for all terminals this evening and early tonight. Then cigs decrease to MVFR/IFR around midnight and continue through Friday. ENE winds 10-20 kts with gusts up to 30 kts. Winds decrease Friday afternoon.

LLWS expected for:

FVE/CAR/PQI Friday afternoon

HUL/BGR all Friday

BHB tonight through Friday

SHORT TERM:

Friday Night.. MVFR/IFR conditions due to low ceilings and rain. Fog may develop overnight, reducing visibility. Winds from the NE at 5 to 10 kts for northern terminals. W winds 5 to 10 kts for southern terminals.

Saturday - Saturday Night.. MVFR/IFR conditions due to low ceilings and rain showers. Rain gradually begins to diminish overnight, earlier for southern terminals. Patchy fog possible in the morning hours. NE winds become N overnight for northern terminals at 5 to 10 kts. NW winds 5 to 10 kts for southern terminals.

Sunday - Sunday Night.. MVFR conditions due to rain showers, particularly for northern terminals, which gradually taper off in the evening. VFR conditions overnight except for possible patchy fog for southern terminals. Light winds from the NW at 5 to 10 kts.

Monday - Tuesday...VFR conditions. Winds from the NW at 5-10 kts.



MARINE
NEAR TERM: A Gale Warning has been issued for tonight into Friday morning. Winds decrease to SCA levels late Friday morning until Friday night. Seas 7-13 ft.

SHORT TERM: Winds and seas decrease below SCA levels by Saturday morning and remain below SCA levels through early next week. SW winds 10 to 15 kts Friday night become NW at 5 to 10 kts through Sunday night.



CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
ME...Wind Advisory until 11 AM EDT Friday for MEZ029-030.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 11 AM EDT Friday for ANZ050>052.