After Thursday’s nor’easter moves out of Maine, the weather is looking up.
According to the Caribou National Weather Service office, conditions will likely be dry and sunny on Sunday, continuing into Monday, resulting in an optimal opportunity to view the total solar eclipse that will last up to 3 ½ minutes in parts of Maine.
The extended forecast shows skies clearing throughout the day Sunday, with a high pressure system moving in from Canada that should clear most clouds. Northern Maine will likely see above-normal temperatures in the mid-50s Sunday, with higher temperatures persisting on Monday. The warmer temperatures will be a boon to the numerous eclipse celebrations occurring this weekend.
While the temperatures and conditions are slated to improve through the weekend, warmer temperatures will continue to melt snow from Thursday’s storm. The snow melt may impact travel conditions, with some flooding possible.
The runoff will likely bring back “mud season” conditions, which can hinder mobility on rural and camp roads, so travelers are being warned to be attentive to changing conditions.
Any lingering winds from Thursday’s storm system are also expected to resolve by Sunday evening, and forecasters see very little likelihood of precipitation either Sunday night or during the day Monday.
Forecasters are expecting that dropping temperatures leading up to and during eclipse totality will be impacted by any lingering snowpack. Under typical weather conditions, air temperatures can drop dramatically by as much as 10 degrees in the lead up and aftermath of totality. Any remaining snow will contribute to lower air temperatures, according to forecasters.
NWS officials still expect that there may be some clouds lingering in the highest levels of the atmosphere, but they are less likely to impact eclipse visibility.
