Winter in northern Maine, spring in southern Maine to start off the week

As the old saying goes, March tends to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. In other words, it’s usually an active month.

So far, most Mainers have been pretty lucky. Generally mild, quiet weather has greeted us for the first full week of the new month.

That changes Monday, but only for some parts of Maine. In southern Maine, mild temperatures will win out. Break out the shorts … a lot of southwestern Maine makes it into the 60s.

In northern Maine, a stalled out front allows for some snow showers to develop. They will gradually sink south through the day, as does the front.

Monday morning shows that front slowly pushing south. NEWS CENTER Maine

By the middle of the afternoon Monday, there could be a 40-degree spread from Sanford to Fort Kent.

Forecast high temperatures on Monday. Big differences! NEWS CENTER Maine

Snow showers continue overnight Monday into Tuesday across northern Maine. Some mixing will be possible closer to Bangor.

Some snow and mixed showers continue in northern Maine. NEWS CENTER Maine

By Tuesday morning, the cold keeps slowly sliding south. This is where the forecast uncertainty comes into play, mainly for temperatures in the Bangor area.

The further that front sinks south, the closer to Bangor the cold air gets.

If the front manages to push south of Bangor, temperatures will crash. It could cause temperatures to fall by 20 degrees if it gets far enough south. In northern Maine, snow showers continue. Southern Maine will still be warm.

The placement of that front Tuesday afternoon will have big implications on temperatures in the central part of the state. NEWS CENTER Maine

The split state continues into Tuesday afternoon, but a low pressure system swings through and levels the playing field.

Rain showers push north and the cold departs with the low.

Rain showers and warm air win out on Tuesday evening. NEWS CENTER Maine

By Wednesday, most Mainers enjoy a sunnier day. For some, it will be warm after the cold air gets scoured out. For others, it will be a bit of a cool down …i t’s all perspective, of course. Highs top out near 50 again.