There are so many summer traditions in Maine it’s tough to keep track of all of them. Some of them are things we all can participate in like the Old Port Festival or this weekend’s Yarmouth Clam Festival. Others are more personal, a favorite spot on the Belgrade lakes, a hike up Pleasant Mountain or a cup (or bucket) of Pier Fries at Old Orchard Beach. Whatever your pleasure, the weather is often an important element of these traditions.

Another part of summer can be early dismissal from work on a Friday or for some of you a three day weekend. We have some issues with the forecast Saturday and Sunday so you’ll want to pay close attention to the forecast and the local radar.

Perfect 10
Friday looks like a great day and it’s also day one of the Yarmouth Clam Festival. If you are headed there the weather looks ideal. Low humidity and bright blue skies will combine to make a picture perfect opening day. Temperatures in the 70s will be warm enough to know it’s summer, but no so warm you’ll be uncomfortable.

Showers Saturday
Unfortunately, a warm front is going to spoil the first half of Saturday, especially before noon. I don’t like to tell folks to change plans based on predictions of showers because as we all know, showers can skirt one area while impacting another close by. However, the odds are quite high early golf games and other outdoor activities are going to be marred by rain.

Here’s the radar prediction for Saturday morning at 5AM. Notice showers are forecast to occur across southern Maine. There could even be some heavier downpours.

The showers are the leading edge of the humid air making a return to the region. It won’t feel too humid early in the day, but as the morning progresses the humidity will dramatically rise.

Muggies Return
The next image is the predicted dew points early Saturday afternoon. Notice southern York County is forecast to have dew points around 70 degrees. At those levels it will feel very sticky and rather uncomfortable. The positive end of things is once we break into the humid air the showers should end and I think we will even see some periods of sunshine.

The radar image for early afternoon Saturday indicates the rain area will move north and showers will end. Sunday appears to be the better of the two weekend days with warm temperatures, high humidity and a blend of clouds and sunshine. The comfortable dry air will be a memory and you will need the air conditioning again.

Early next week a cold front will sweep east and bring a renewed opportunity for showers Monday night or Tuesday. I don’t see any prolonged rainfall and 90 degree heat will continue to be kept away from the area without a strong Bermuda high pressure area. This is the typical pressure system which pumps warm and humid air northward in July and August.

This year we have not seen this system set up in a typically persistent manner. If you don’t like heat, this is probably a welcome pattern.

Have a great weekend.

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