Alert archive / Maine / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 1, NWS Caribou, ME

May 15, 2026Hancock County, Washington County, Maine

NWS Caribou, ME issued this beach hazards statement at May 15, 2026, 1:49 PM EDT for Hancock County, Washington County, Maine. It took effect at May 16, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 2026, 1:49 PM EDT (17:49 UTC)
In effect from
May 16, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
May 16, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Caribou, ME

Counties Hancock County, ME, Washington County, ME

The radar

The Caribou radar (KCBW), 142 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Gray, ME (KGYX), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 205 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2026-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Gray, ME at 12:00Z on 2026-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 109 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
634 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

562 
WHUS41 KCAR 151749
CFWCAR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Caribou ME
149 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

MEZ029-030-170000-
/O.NEW.KCAR.BH.S.0001.260516T1200Z-260517T0000Z/
Coastal Hancock-Coastal Washington-
149 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING
THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...

* WHAT....The warm air temperatures in the upper 60s may cause
  people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water
  temperatures which are currently in the low 40s.

* WHERE...Coastal Hancock and Coastal Washington Counties.

* WHEN...From Saturday morning through Saturday evening.

* IMPACTS...Anyone on boats or paddlecraft should use caution and
  be prepared for immersion. Dress for cold water temperatures and
  know how to perform rescues.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued on days when a significant
number of boats and paddlecraft are expected to be out on the
water and when warm air temperatures may cause people to
underestimate the danger of the cold water. Paddle smart from the
start. Always wear your life jacket. Be aware of wind conditions,
tides, and localized currents.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
833 
WHUS41 KCAR 162341
CFWCAR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Caribou ME
741 PM EDT Sat May 16 2026

MEZ029-030-170045-
/O.EXP.KCAR.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260517T0000Z/
Coastal Hancock-Coastal Washington-
741 PM EDT Sat May 16 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

The Beach Hazards Statement will be allowed to expire at 8 PM.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Caribou, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at May 15, 5:35 AM EDT, 8 hours 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Warm and dry this weekend through early next week. 2) Scattered thunderstorms possible Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 5:35 AM EDT, 8 hours 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
535 AM EDT Fri May 15 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...

- Updated aviation section to reflect upcoming 12Z TAFs

- Increased confidence in timing of isolated rain showers
  Sunday morning

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Warm and dry this weekend through early next week.

2) Scattered thunderstorms possible Tuesday and Wednesday
afternoons.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Warm and dry this weekend through early next
week.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
The upper level trough will finally exit to the east this
weekend. A broad ridge of high pressure will settle in its
place. This will lead to a southwest dominant flow across our
forecast area, advecting warm air into the region. The
particular airmass that is entering the region will contain
abnormally warm temperatures across the eastern half of the
CONUS. For our area, at the northern end of the ridge,
temperatures will rise above average by around 5 degrees or so.
This may lead to temperatures into the low 70s across the region
this weekend. If the departing upper level trough takes longer
to shift east or the center of the incoming high pressure sets
up further south, these temperatures may not warm as much. If
the ridge that develops is stronger than currently projected, it
may have a more dominant influence over our forecast area and
temperatures could trend warmer than currently projected.

Skies will be mostly clear during the subsidence pattern into
this weekend, with limited available atmospheric moisture as
PWATs are forecast to be less than 1 inch, falling to less than
a half inch by Sunday night into Monday. Some fair weather
cumulus may develop during Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, a weak
trough will move through the area which could bring isolated
light rain showers early Sunday morning before conditions dry
out once more into Sunday afternoon, along with continued wind
gusts up to 30 mph. Heading into Monday, there exists the
potential for rapidly dropping dewpoints resulting in relative
humidity that could plummet below 30 percent, as forecast
soundings show steep lapse rates and a deep pocket of dry air in
the mid levels.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Scattered thunderstorms possible Tuesday and
Wednesday afternoons.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
Southwest winds return the warm, more moist air advection to
the area Tuesday into Wednesday, re-energizing the atmosphere
with fuel that could support isolated thunderstorm development.
Early global guidance suggests CAPE values could approach 1000
J/kg with around 40 kts of bulk shear, and these ingredients
could help with not only thunderstorm development but sustaining
thunderstorms for a longer duration. Thunderstorms could be
possible across the forecast area, but forcing and available
moisture will be greatest in the north closer to the lingering
warm front.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Today...VFR north, MVFR for KBGR/KBHB in scattered showers. E to
NE wind 5 to 10 kt.

Tonight...VFR. S to SW wind 5 to 10 kt.

Saturday...VFR.  W to SW wind 10 to 15 kt.

Saturday night - Sunday...Generally VFR across all terminals.
Isolated -SHRA possible early Sunday morning. W to NW winds 10
to 15 kts gusting 20 to 25 kts.

Sunday night - Monday night...VFR. NW winds 5 to 10 kts,
shifting S by Monday night.

Tuesday...Overall VFR, with MVFR/IFR possible in any rain
showers. Low cigs most likely at northern terminals. Scattered
thunderstorms in the afternoon. SW winds 5 to 10 kts.

&&

.MARINE...
Small Craft Advisory remains up into Saturday with seas ranging
from 5 to 7 ft.

Seas 4 to 7 ft Saturday night into the day on Sunday will begin
to gradually decrease late Sunday into the beginning of next
week. Winds gusting 20 to 30 kts will also decrease through the
day on Sunday, remaining below small craft advisory criteria
through the first half of the upcoming work week.

&&

.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for ANZ050-051.

&&

DISCUSSION...AES/TWD
AVIATION...AES/TWD

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 15, 1:30 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Caribou ME
130 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-170000-
Northwest Aroostook-Northeast Aroostook-Northern Somerset-
Northern Piscataquis-Northern Penobscot-Southeast Aroostook-
Central Piscataquis-Central Penobscot-Southern Penobscot-
Interior Hancock-Central Washington-Coastal Hancock-
Coastal Washington-Southern Piscataquis-Northern Washington-
Including the cities of Allagash, Clayton Lake, Madawaska,
Fort Kent, Frenchville, Presque Isle, Caribou, Van Buren, Mars Hill,
Ashland, Baker Lake, Billy-Jack Depot, Baxter St Park,
Churchill Dam, Mount Katahdin, Ripogenus, Telos Lake,
Caucomgomoc Lake, Chamberlain Lake, Millinocket, East Millinocket,
Patten, Medway, Houlton, Hodgdon, Sherman, Smyrna Mills, Greenville,
Monson, Blanchard, Lincoln, Howland, Springfield, Bangor, Brewer,
Orono, Old Town, Amherst, Aurora, Dedham, Eastbrook, Great Pond,
Calais, Grand Lake Stream, Wesley, Princeton, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor,
Bucksport, Orland, Castine, Eastport, Perry, Machias, Cherryfield,
Dover-Foxcroft, Milo, Guilford, Danforth, Vanceboro, and Topsfield
130 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

...National Weather Service Cold Water Safety Message...

* The warm air temperatures this weekend in the upper 60s to mid 70s may
  cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water
  temperatures which are currently only in the mid 40s on the lakes
  and in the mid 40s on the rivers.

* The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to
  anyone immersed in the water. According to the Maine Warden
  Service, when the water temperatures are below 50 degrees, the
  chance of immediate incapacitation due to cold shock is extremely
  high. Anyone on small boats, canoes or kayaks should plan
  accordingly if recreating this weekend and use extreme caution to
  avoid this threat. Paddle smart from the start and always wear
  your life jacket!

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in Maine, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.