I’m teaching a meteorology course up at Colby College for January, so I get to experience central Maine morning cold first hand this month. Earlier, it was just about zero where I am staying and the dogs, acclimated to milder weather further south, are struggling with walking around on these cold mornings. I find my larger rat terrier can handle walking once it hits about 12F, anything lower he becomes a three legged dog alternately trying to lift one up off the snow as he walks.

An arctic front pushed eastward this morning and behind it the coldest air of the season is poised to hit Maine. Since I am a glass half full type of person I’ll note this level of cold won’t last very long. This doesn’t mean it will warm up to balmy levels, but the idea we will see multiple days in a row below zero in places like Portland, York or Brunswick isn’t going to happen.

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There’s not any doubt the entire state will see temperatures in the single numbers and teens below zero Thursday morning. It would not surprise me if tomorrow ended up being the coldest overall morning of the winter even if selected communities end up colder late this month or early in February.

The big story is the wind chill coming tonight. This is reasonably serious cold for Maine and you are not going to want to be outside this evening through tomorrow morning longer than is necessary. Skiers take note, temperatures will modify after 11AM tomorrow if you are headed up to the slopes.

If you wait for a bus or walk any distance, make sure to wear the appropriate clothing. Frost bite won’t occur in just a few minutes, although the way some carry on about it you would think if stick your hand outside it would instantly fall off. But let’s not diminish the risk too much because every year someone, often kids or pets, stay outside too long and end up with frostbite. The wind chill chart below show that wind chills won’t quite reach the level where frostbit occurs after 30 minutes.

The leading edge of the arctic air is marked by a few snow showers. I am not expecting anything more than a brief burst of snow in the afternoon, but anytime you have an arctic front crossing the region it can cause roads to become slick. This is a bit like forecasting thunderstorms in the summer; meteorologists know the situation is good for snow showers, but we can’t tell you exactly who will see the heaviest.

By dark the front is off the coast and the cold air is pouring in. You’ll notice the wind, the cold and the dryness to the air through Thursday. If you haven’t needed a humidifier yet this winter, this is the time to start it up.

A southwest flow of air will bring a quick weather system with some light snow overnight Thursday and into Friday morning. Again, like many of our snow events the past 6 weeks, there isn’t going to be much accumulation. I could see 2 inches occur if the situation ends up being just right for snow, but also another dusting is possible. Either way, you certainly won’t need snowshoes to get to the mailbox Friday.

Somewhat below average, but not bitter cold air continues through the weekend. It will be dry and sunny both days and good for getting outside, doing some skating or skiing or maybe just taking a winter walk.
There will be another storm passing to our south early next week. We will have to watch how the models handle this storm, but presently the flow looks too far south to bring anything more than clouds to the area. Stay warm.

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