Much of southern Maine missed out on the rain yesterday as our dry spell remains firmly entrenched.  Temperatures ended up reaching the lower 60s in many spots during the first part of Thursday before falling back in the afternoon.  The reason for the dramatic drop in readings was a cold front that pushed offshore.

For the next couple of days our air will be cool and dry originating up in Canada.  The dry flow will prevent any rain or snow activity and will lead to abundant sunshine, especially along the coastal plain.

Temperatures the next few days will be seasonably cool.  I expect Saturday to be the pick of the weekend with moderate winds and temperatures well into the 40s to near 50F along the coast of York county.

On Sunday a weak storm will pass to our north and bring with it clouds and the slight risk of a shower.  When I say slight, I mean most of you will see no rain.  Across the mountains of western Maine it will be cold enough there could be a few wet snowflakes mixed with any light showers that do occur. 

Monday is a holiday for many of you and the weather continues its tranquil trend. Temperatures will be in the 40s along the coast and immediate interior, but only in the upper 30s across the mountains.

Tuesday and Wednesday bring even colder air to the region.  Highs by the middle of the workweek will only be in the 30s along the coast, but remain in the 20s across the mountains and higher terrain.

That cold weather will last a couple of day with a moderating trend towards the end of the week. There are some signs the atmosphere wants to undergo some changes towards the end of the week which could impact our weather moving into the middle and end of the month.  

When I write about atmospheric changes, I am speaking about the pressure patterns around the globe, including as far away as the arctic.  As the pressure changes occur, the jet stream, the river of air controlling our day to day weather will bend and twist.  These changes can impact the movement of cold and warm air and help create storms.

When the jet stream changes from one pattern to another, the computer models we use to forecast these changes become less reliable.  The forecast for late next week shows the possibility of everything from a warm-up to a big cool down to rain or snow.   A this point it’s not prudent to start making predictions when the atmosphere is entering a less predictable state.

 Gardening this week

 This week my video is on raised beds and how they can help extend the season.  I show you several ways you can use raised bed or cold frames to allow your gardening to start earlier and end later each year.

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