Stormy skies should clear on the Fourth of July

Mainers can expect mostly clear skies on Thursday, as overcast skies clear through the morning ahead of Fourth of July festivities.

Starting Wednesday, northern and Down East Maine can expect partly sunny skies in the morning, with clouds increasing through the afternoon, according to the Caribou office of the National Weather Service.

Those clouds will likely produce scattered precipitation across northern Maine on Wednesday, with sparse showers across the Down East region. A warm front will remain over Down East Maine on Thursday, bringing rain, but is expected to clear out as a cold front crosses over the region throughout the day Thursday.

As showers move out, expect partly sunny skies and in the morning to turn to mostly sunny conditions in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s on Thursday across much of the Down East region.

Looking inland, temperatures will be in the low to mid 80s throughout the Katahdin region and Greater Bangor. Daytime dew points are expected to hover around the mid-50s, bumping the heat index up a degree or two.

Looking toward Houlton and Caribou, daytime high temperatures will hover in the low 80s on Thursday, with a 30 percent chance of showers. Thunderstorms are possible in the region after 2 p.m. Thursday, according to forecasters.

Showers are also likely throughout the Gray NWS forecast region on Wednesday night, with humidity building up on Thursday, as conditions for thunderstorms this weekend ripen.

Highs are expected to reach the low 80s throughout southern Maine on Independence Day. Temperatures and conditions may change on Wednesday.