Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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937 FXUS61 KGYX 142230 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 630 PM EDT Fri Jun 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Cold front moves offshore tonight with cooler and drier air arriving for the weekend. After another seasonable day Monday...temperatures and humidity will build through the middle of the week with an extended period of very hot and humid conditions expected through the week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
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Have cleaned up PoPs a bit for the next few hours based on latest radar imagery and CAM output. A broken line of low-topped thunderstorms, at times showing brief supercell characteristics, has developed in a corridor from near Plymouth NH to Waterville ME. Instability and deep shear continues to be sufficient for a few strong storms with gusty winds being the main threats. Cannot rule out a svr storm or two. This threat will continue into the evening before the bulk of the activity moves off the coast in advance of a cold front. Previously... Scattered strong to severe storms continue for the next few hours before the front pushes offshore this evening. The best chance for these looks to actually be across central Maine and New Hampshire, where temps were able to warm more with more sunshine and less shower activity earlier in the day. Southern NH appears to have a lower chance for storms than earlier thinking after being worked over more by morning showers, but temps are still warming back up again and there will likely still be some storms later this afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail continue to look like the main threats with these storms. The front pushes offshore this evening, with clearing overnight. The front slows down in the Gulf of Maine overnight, which slows the clearing closer to the coast, so some clouds may linger through daybreak tomorrow. Father north, cooler and drier air begins to work in overnight, with lows falling to near 50 degrees.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... High pressure moves in from the northwest during the daytime tomorrow, bringing dry conditions and seasonable temps. A northwesterly breeze also helps to keep the seabreeze away, allowing temps to warm into the mid to upper 70s south of the mountains. Overall, a pleasant and comfortable day is expected for tomorrow, offering a great day to get air conditioners in ahead of next week`s heat. Tomorrow night looks seasonably cool, with lows falling into the 40s in most spots. Mid to upper 30s are likely across the northern valleys, and some patchy frost can`t be ruled out in some of the most sheltered valleys. The high crests over New England tomorrow night, providing clear skies and light winds overnight. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Record Heat Forecast Confidence Continues to Increase... Overview: Amplifying 500mb ridge axis across the Eastern CONUS will continue to build through the week before cresting across our region by mid-week with extremely anomalous height fields. Potential suppression of the amplified ridge towards the end of the forecast period as shortwave troughs move across Northern New England bringing the threat for thunderstorms, cloud cover and a cooling trend. Impacts: Multiple days of heat indices in excess of 95 to 100F beginning Tuesday likely continuing through the end of the week. The potential exists for heat indices in excess of 105F especially over southern NH and SW ME. The Merrimack Valley is of particular concern. Forecast Details: Sunday - Surface ridge will be centered over the area with a perfect June day expected as dewpoints remain in the 50s under mostly sunny skies. Monday - Surface warm front pushes through the area as Mid-Atlantic heat doom amplifies northward. A few showers are possible along the warm front along with increased cloud cover and the beginning upward trend in humidity but overall seasonable weather is expected. Tuesday - Quick ramp up in temperatures and humidity as 500mb heights increase to 596 dam along with 850 temps of 26C. This will allow for heat index values to surge into the 90s and the first day that heat headlines might be needed. Wednesday - Thursday things get worse with some impressive 500mb height anomalies over us as the heat dome becomes centered across the NE CONUS. Reforecast Ensemble Means are near record values in all ensemble camps, thus record highs or near record highs have high confidence at Day 6 forecast time frame. In addition the heat will be building with low temps remaining in the 70s, causing unconditioned buildings to have issues. Looks like if excessive heat warnings are needed it will be in this time-frame. Friday - Guidance is hinting at a slight suppression of the heat dome as the area looks to be in the ring of fire as 500mb shortwaves will be riding over the ridge bringing the chance for thunderstorms, most likely severe in nature based off climatology break down of ridge patterns.
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&& .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Short Term...Scattered showers and brief TSRA continue into the evening hours across central and coastal terminals for the next few hours. VFR conditions prevail otherwise, and return in full by late this evening. VFR conditions then prevail through tomorrow night. Long Term...No aviation impacts are expected Sunday through Monday with VFR conditions in dry weather. The issue moving into the week will be the building heat and possible impacts to crews.
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&& .MARINE... Short Term...Marginal SCA conditions continue through this evening. A cold front moves through the waters the evening, with scattered thunderstorms during the early evening hours. High pressure builds across the waters for the weekend, bringing fair conditions. Long Term...This period will be dominated by surface high pressure allowing seas to remain below SCA conditions. Offshore to parallel flow will be the dominate wind pattern through next week. Expect seas to be in the 2 to 3 feet range. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ150- 152-154. && $$ NEAR TERM UPDATE...Ekster