Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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144 FXUS61 KGYX 211957 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 357 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Low pressure south of Cape Cod lingers into Sunday before slowly drifting southward early next week. The low continues to bring cooler conditions, a few showers and light rain near the coast, along with high surf and minor coastal flooding impacts along the coastline. High pressure builds southward across New England by early next week, bringing seasonable temperatures and dry conditions.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
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Inverted trof continues to produce steady light rain over much of southern NH. I have increased PoP again and keep it more or less thru daybreak...especially for the Seacoast. I had to go a little off script from model guidance...which does not have a very good handle on precip at the moment. I do not see much changing regarding forcing at least into the evening...so I suspect rain will continue to fall. While amounts are not going to reach levels seen down on Cape Cod...an additional half inch is possible in the most persistent rain bands. Cloud cover will keep temps on the mild side tonight...but clearing on the edges of the clouds may result in some radiation and valley fog formation. I have added it to the CT River Valley based on persistence from last night.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
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Clouds will continue to gradually clear Sun...though northeast winds will ensure that temps remain near normal to below normal. Clearing and surface ridging will allow temps to radiate better than the last couple of nights...with lots of 40s and some upper 30s possible. Valley fog is likely...especially in the CT River Valley.
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&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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The 500 MB pattern through next week across NOAM continues to become more blocky, especially over the E half of the continent and the N Atlantic. The cooler ridge that move in for early next week will be replaced by an approaching trough to our W, and which models close off /to differing degrees/ over the E CONUS Thu-Fri. So, the period from Wed-Fri looks unsettled, although unlikely to rain the whole period, still need to have models in batter agreement on the timing, and strength of the systems. Still, it should warm up in the mid levels mid-late week, but given the way things are setting up, it looks like onshore or NE flow may dominate, keeping temps cooler, but still fairly close to normal. Interestingly enough, it is around the time of the equinox, and there is almost no below freezing air at 850 mb S of the arctic circle, and no sign of a major cold air intrusion any time soon according tho the models. Monday and Tuesday should be partly to mostly sunny with highs mostly in the mid to upper 60s, and overnight lows mid 40s to low 50s. By Wed, as the 500 trough deepens equatorward out of ON/QC will begin to see the threat of some showers, but for now the best chance looks more Wed night. Highs on Wed may end up a few degrees cooler than Mon or Tue but still in the 60s. That upper level closed low then drift Se across New England and deepens Thu, which continue the threat for rain, and then may or may not produce a coastal low near S New England which moves offshore. Moisture in the column is fairly high by Friday, and the 12Z Euro brings a bullseye of heavy rain into New England, which does raise a red flag, as sometimes the models are onto something, but it is more of general signal to watch for heavy rain, that something to be taken too literally. Despite the rain, the warmer and more humid air will allow for highs mid 60s to around 70 at the end of the week.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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Short Term...Areas of MVFR CIGs will continue across southern NH northeast into the Casco Bay region. Gradually those CIGs will scatter out and lift this evening and overnight. On the fringes of cloud cover some valley fog may form tonight...and I have added IFR VSBY to LEB. VFR conditions expected Sun...with a better potential for valley fog Sun night. Long Term...Mainly VFR expected Mon-Wed, although flight restrictions become possible by Wed night into Thu, as there is some potential for rain and low cigs.
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&& .MARINE...
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Short Term...Persistent northeast winds continue thru the period. Gusts will be marginal SCA at times...but seas will remain at or above 5 ft outside of the bays into Mon. Even the eastern portions of Casco Bay will see the higher seas...so SCA remains for those waters. Long Term...While winds are likely to remain below SCA criteria the pulses of low pressure S of the waters over the next several days will keep the swell up near 5-6 feet through the middle of next week.
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&& .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
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Tides continue at their astronomical peak for the month...with the highest tides occurring during the afternoon hours. With an ocean storm still spinning south of Cape Cod...storm surge will continue to run between one half and one foot on northeast winds. Another round of minor coastal flooding...splash- over...and erosion is likely from Portland south Sun afternoon. Beach surveys and Emergency Managers continue to indicate compromised dune systems along the coastline from our storms this past winter...which will limit natural protection.
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&& .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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ME...Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for MEZ023-024. High Surf Advisory until 8 PM EDT Sunday for MEZ023-024. NH...Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for NHZ014. High Surf Advisory until 8 PM EDT Sunday for NHZ014. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Sunday for ANZ150-152>154.
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&& $$ NEAR TERM...Legro SHORT TERM...Legro LONG TERM...Cempa