Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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524 FXUS61 KGYX 081916 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 316 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Several cool and unsettled days are in store as a warm front remains south of most of our forecast area. Widespread showers expected today with a strong storm or two possible this afternoon, mainly across southern NH. Another system follows for the end of the week, bringing more showers into the forecast. The unsettled, showery pattern may continue through the weekend and possibly into early next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
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Showers from mid level WAA exiting the CWA over the next hour or, with warm sector above the inversion moving in late afternoon early eve. This leads to another round showers, more convective and probably more scattered late today. Some thunder is being seen in some of these cells in VT, but expect them to flatten as the cross the CT valley. The best chance for a TSRA will be across SW NH, perhaps as far E as KMHT/KASH. I think theres a very small chance that a strong storm moves into Cheshire county through about 7 PM, with maybe some hail and some strong winds. Otherwise, between the onset of rain, and the development of onshore flow temps in most places have fallen off morning maxes and now in the upper 40s to low 50s. Parts of the CT valley are the exception where the rain has ended, the clouds have thinned just a bit and the winds are more S-SW, so there temps may warm a few more degrees and top in in the 60-65 range. For tonight, the showers in the warm sector and eventually along the cold front should end by or around midnight. With mainly cloudy skies hold in through the night. NNE flow develops behind the front, during the pre-dawn hours, and this will help clear some places of the low clouds and fog, but the marine layer will stay strong , especially closer to the coast, and that front will not show mixing until after sunrise. Mins will be in the 40s, lower in the mtns and upper in S NH.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
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Very weak sfc high moves through on Thu, but low to mid level flow becomes stagnant, so it will be tough to clear things out, and skies stay mainly cloudy, although the most sun will be found in the E zones. Still, the NNE flow will at least keep the winds from being onshore, so it looks like temps will stay a little warmer through the day with maxes mostly in the mid to upper 50s. However, except for the exception of a few showers in the mtns, it should stay dry through the day. Thu night stay cloudy, with weak sfc low passing S of New England. This brings a chance of some showers working into the S half of NH after midnight. , but it should remain dry for the rest of the CWA, as that NNE flow helps keep dry air in place. It`ll be a little cooler Thu night with lows ranging from the upper 30s in the ME mtns to the low to mid 40s in the S.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Model guidance has overall persisted with a drier trend for Friday and Saturday with high pressure remaining more in control over our area with a south and eastward trend in an area of low pressure moving off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Still, expect mostly cloudy skies for southern and western areas on Friday with these areas also seeing the higher (30-40%) shower chances. More breaks are expected in the clouds farther north and east with lower shower chances (20%) due to more dry air aloft for Friday. For Saturday, some energy aloft will be crossing overhead to aid in shower development, but lingering dry air aloft should keep shower coverage low. A better chance for additional rain showers arrives Saturday night into Sunday as a more amplified wave moves across New England, but amounts are expected to be light with maybe 0.10-0.25" of rain, per ensemble guidance. Going into early next week, low-level southerly flow is expected to bring a return to warmer temperatures with perhaps another wave or two giving us more showers. However, there is poor agreement on the among models in resolving these waves, so I have left in the NBM slight chance/chance showers.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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Short Term...With the exception of KHIE and KLEB, all terminals should drop to IFR or LIFT tonight, and will be stuck there through Thu morning. I think theres a good chance for some improvement Thu afternoon into Thu night, but I think itll more like be MVFR than VFR. KLEB/KHIE will stay VFR to MVFR, although KHIE could go down to IFR late. They both should settle at MVFR Thu into Thu night. Long Term...The forecast has trended drier for Friday and Saturday, but the better chances for rain showers/restrictions remains across NH and SW ME. These areas could see MVFR ceilings, possibly IFR at times, as well as vsby reductions within SHRA. Additional chances for showers/flight restrictions are possible Sunday into Monday, but the forecast confidence in timing and locations(s) of these remains low.
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&& .MARINE...
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Short Term...Winds/seas pick up from the NE late tonight through Thu evening, and should see gusts in the 20-25 kt range, especially Thu aft/eve, but should mostly stay below SCA levels. Long Term...Winds will be out of the east or northeast on Friday with high pressure NE of the waters and emerging low pressure near the Mid-Atlantic coast. This low will begin to lift to the northeast Friday night into Saturday but is expected to pass east of the waters. However, depending on its proximity to the waters, it could bring a period of SCA level wind gusts Fri night through Saturday. Even though showery weather may continue into Saturday, winds and seas look to subside. A return to more southerly flow looks to occur next week, but it`s uncertain as to whether it will increase enough for SCA levels at this time.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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High astronomical tides combined with around 0.5 feet of storm surge may push water levels to around minor flood stage around the time of high tide late this evening/tonight and again Thursday night.
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&& .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...Cempa SHORT TERM...Cempa LONG TERM...Combs