Alert archive / Maine / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 23, NWS Caribou, ME

August 29, 2026Hancock County, Washington County, Maine

NWS Caribou, ME issued this beach hazards statement at Aug 29, 2026, 9:55 PM EDT for Hancock County, Washington County, Maine. It took effect at Aug 30, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 29, 2026, 9:55 PM EDT (01:55 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 30, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
Aug 30, 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 01:56 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 00:00Z, 1.9 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1389 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

796 
WHUS41 KCAR 300155
CFWCAR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Caribou ME
955 PM EDT Sat Aug 29 2026

MEZ029-030-310000-
/O.NEW.KCAR.BH.S.0023.260830T1200Z-260831T0000Z/
Coastal Hancock-Coastal Washington-
955 PM EDT Sat Aug 29 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT SUNDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...The warm air temperatures from the mid 70 to around 80 
  may cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water 
  temperatures which are currently in the 50 to 55 degree range.

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

* WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Sunday through Sunday evening.

* IMPACTS...The cold water temperatures can quickly cause 
  hypothermia to anyone immersed in the waters. Anyone on boats 
  or paddlecraft should use extreme caution to avoid this threat.

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
450 
WHUS41 KCAR 310024
CFWCAR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Caribou ME
824 PM EDT Sun Aug 30 2026

MEZ029-030-310130-
/O.EXP.KCAR.BH.S.0023.000000T0000Z-260831T0000Z/
Coastal Hancock-Coastal Washington-
824 PM EDT Sun Aug 30 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED...

$$

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 Aug 29, 2:13 PM EDT, 7 hours 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) System bringing some rain showers tonight, followed by more showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. 2) System brings round of rain showers mid-to-late week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 29, 2:13 PM EDT, 7 hours 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
213 PM EDT Sat Aug 29 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
- Minor adjustment of POPs coverage on Sunday based on the
  latest hi-res model trends.

- Adjusted thunderstorms to mainly isolated coverage on Sunday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) System bringing some rain showers tonight, followed by more
showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon.

2) System brings round of rain showers mid-to-late week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...System bringing some rain showers tonight,
followed by more showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday
afternoon.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
A couple rounds of 700 mb vort maxes will impact the forecast
area beginning late tonight. First, a weak 700 mb vort max will
dip over the St. John Valley overnight tonight. This may bring
scattered rain showers into northern Aroostook county through
the night as some higher PWATs accompany the feature (lifting to
0.8 to 0.9 inches), but the vorticity will weaken and exit the
area early Sunday morning. Additionally, dry air will return as
well Sunday morning, with PWATs dipping back below 0.8 inches.

A cold front will later cross the forecast area Sunday
afternoon, bringing another round of showers and storms across
the entire area. Though forecast 0-6 km shear is quite high,
approaching 50 kts from the NAMNEST, forecast CAPE is on the
lower end, and there will not be any deep layer of moisture to
work with. That said, thunderstorms are possible but will likely
be ordinary in structure. Lines of training storms could develop
along the boundary itself as it crosses the area, and this would
be the best chance at any stronger organization for enhanced
threats, but even then, at most it appears maybe some gusty
winds with these storms based on the lack of extensive severe
parameters being met at this time.

KEY MESSAGE 2...System brings round of rain showers mid-to-late
week.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
High pressure over northern New England early week, as a low
pressure moves east ward through Canada. Global models are
disagreeing on the timing of the system and its associated
front, with the GFS showing rain on Thursday and the ECMWF
showing rain Wednesday afternoon. GLobal models have been
trending this system slower in the last few model runs, so
anticipating rainfall late week. Expecting the highest rain
totals to be in the Downeast region. Confidence will begin to
improve once models get a better handle on the environment for
next week.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Tonight...VFR conditions continue, with low probability of
reduced vsby due to BR/FG late. Winds shift SW around 5 kts,
becoming light and variable overnight. Low confidence of brief
LLWS possible early, between around 00z and 06z, at northern
terminals.

Sunday...VFR early, with MVFR/IFR potentially developing in the
afternoon with -SHRA/TSRA from KBGR northwards. W to SW winds 5
to 10 kts with gusts to 20 kts.

Sunday night...MVFR with a chance of rain showers. VFR late.
W/NW winds at 5 to 10 knots.

Monday...VFR. NW winds at 5 to 10 knots.

Monday night...VFR. Chance for some valley fog. Light and
variable winds.

Tuesday...VFR. Winds Variable winds.

Tuesday night...VFR at northern terminals, and MVFR at KBGR/KBHB
in rain showers. Light and variable winds overnight.

Wednesday...MVFR/IFR in potential rain showers. SE winds at
5-10 kts.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds/seas below SCA levels this weekend into early next week.
Seas 2 to 4 ft. Slight chance for rain showers Sunday night.
Winds NW Sunday night into Monday, shifting to E/SE Tuesday.

&&

.CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for MEZ029-030.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...AES/ASB
AVIATION...AES/ASB

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.