FXUS61 KCAR 202359 AFDCAR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Caribou ME 759 PM EDT Fri Mar 20 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... -7:59PM UPDATE...00z TAF Update. See aviation section below. Made minor changes to POPs to account for radar trends. Issued an SPS for slippery travel across the Interior Downeast, Bangor Region into Southern Aroostook County as roads cool. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Period of light snow tonight across the north and snow and rain mix Downeast tonight may result in some minor travel difficulties. 2) Snow for the south Sunday through Monday, impacting the Monday morning commute. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... Period of light snow tonight across the north and snow and rain mix Downeast tonight may result in some minor travel difficulties. KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION... A weak and fast moving area of low pressure will track rapidly eastward across New York State late this afternoon and then quickly east of the Gulf of Maine Saturday morning. This system will bring a period of light snow across the north this evening and a mix of snow and rain for the Bangor region and Downeast areas. Snowfall across the region tonight through early Saturday morning will generally range from one to two inches away from the coast. The main impacts will be the potential for some slushy roadways this evening into the overnight hours. KEY MESSAGE 2...Snow for the south Sunday through Monday, impacting the Monday morning commute. KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION... A surface low pressure system is expected to develop over the Great Lakes and move towards the region on Sunday. The main question will be the direction of the track of the low due to influence of the high pressure to the north. If the track of the system follows the deterministic models, then the snow amounts should be higher Downeast with less north. However, if the track follows the trend and ensemble models, the track should be further to the south. This will increase the dry air ahead of the low and produce less snow. Nevertheless, snow is expected for both Sunday and Monday, with possible travel difficulties Monday morning. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Tonight...VFR north with MVFR/IFR south. -SN continues at all sites except BHB where its -RA. Expecting precip to end overnight and turn to VCSH. Sites becoming IFR cigs. Light and variable winds. Saturday...MVFR early then becoming VFR. N wind 10 to 15 kt with G20 kt. Saturday Night...VFR. Light N to Nw wind. Sunday-Sunday night...VFR north, MVFR/IFR Downeast terminals in snow. N 5-10kts northern terminals and S 5-10kts Downeast on Sunday, becoming NNE 5-10kts Sunday night. Monday...MVFR/IFR in snow Downeast terminals, mainly VFR north. N 5-15kts. Monday night-Tuesday...VFR. NNW 5-10kts. Wed...MVFR/IFR in snow. W winds 5-15 kts. && .MARINE... A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the outer waters through early Sunday morning, and for the intracoastal waters through Saturday evening. Small craft conditions return after midnight Sunday night with NNE winds around marginal gales Monday morning and into the evening hours. Seas climb to between 6 to 9 feet on Monday and remain elevated before dropping to near/below SCA levels Tuesday afternoon. Wind gusts diminish below 25kts Tuesday morning. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Sunday for ANZ050-051. Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Saturday for ANZ052. && $$ DISCUSSION...TWD/ARL/JS AVIATION...TWD/ARL