More rain chances today; warmer, brighter start to the week

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Good morning, and happy Sunday everyone.

Differing conditions are expected today. For areas along the interstate and to the south & east, skies will be overcast with steady rain showers throughout much of the day. Locations farther to the north & west will be on the drier side, with partly to mostly cloudy skies accompanied by a few scattered rain showers. Many western locations will get by with a dry day. Highs will vary from the mid 40s to mid 50s with NNW gusts peaking between 20-30 mph. Rainfall totals on Sunday will vary from under a tenth of an inch in many Western spots, to between a half an inch to an inch across the Bangor region, Upper Penobscot Valley, Southern Aroostook, and Downeast Maine.

By Monday and Tuesday, temperatures will start to warm, and sunshine will return to the forecast. A mix of sun and clouds are expected on both days with highs from the low 50s to mid 60s on Monday, warming up even further on Tuesday, from the mid 50s to mid 70s. Winds will also pick up, with breezy gusts reaching between 20-35 mph. A couple showers are possible to the North on Monday, mostly during the mid morning to early afternoon. However, a more notable frontal system looks like it will enter northwestern Maine on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Due to the warm temperatures, instability, and available energy in the atmosphere, scattered/hatched thunderstorms are possible across the northwest.

The frontal system that may provide thunderstorms across northwestern Maine on Tuesday afternoon/evening, will likely become widespread across Maine on Wednesday. Skies are anticipated to be cloudy with rain showers becoming more consistent and widespread throughout the day. Highs will take a hit, from the low 50s to mid 60s with SSW gusts remaining a bit breezy, reaching 20-25 mph.

Another system is expected to work in right behind Wednesday’s system, so Thursday is looking to be another cloudy and wet day with widespread rain. Models are suggesting a bit of a delay, so the start of Thursday could be dry. Rain showers may linger into Friday as well. Over the next 7 days, Maine will likely receive some of the greatest amounts of rain in the entire country. Totals are anticipated to range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

SUNDAY: Highs from mid 40s to mid 50s. Cloudier skies with rain farther East. Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers farther West. Patchy AM fog. NNW gusts reach 20-30 mph.

MONDAY: Highs from low 50s to mid 60s. Partly to mostly sunny AM. Partly to mostly cloudy PM. A couple PM showers North. WSW gusts reach 20-30 mph.

TUESDAY: Highs from mid 50s to mid 70s. Partly cloudy. Mostly cloudy NW with PM thunderstorms possible. SSW gusts reach 25-35 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Highs from low 50s to mid 60s. Cloudy with rain showers, becoming more consistent throughout the day. SSW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

THURSDAY: Highs from low 50s to low 60s. Cloudier skies with rain consistent and widespread. Scattered gusts reach 20 mph.