Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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469 FXUS61 KGYX 200727 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 327 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Hot and humid conditions will persist today as a strong cold front drops south over Northern New England this afternoon and evening. This front will bring the risk for severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall. Cooler temperatures and periods of showers are then likely to persist through the upcoming weekend as a series of disturbances cross over the region. Drier and warmer conditions will likely return towards the middle of next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Nighttime microphysics satellite imagery early this morning shows lingering upper level clouds across the north and mountains with mainly clear skies over the foothills and points south. Current temperatures are still primarily into the 70s with a few locations in the 60s. Other than perhaps another degree or two of cooling, temperatures will remain nearly steady through daybreak as dew point depressions are quite small. Temperatures will quickly warm later this morning with the increasing solar insolation with readings likely soaring into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees by mid to late morning. Highs will range from the 80s across the north due to additional cloud cover to the middle and upper 90s south and then 80s along the coast. Sfc dew points will remain elevated into the upper 60s/low 70s, which will help to boost heat indices into the 95-105 degree range. Based on latest guidance southern Oxford County was added to the existing Excessive Heat Warning but otherwise no changes were made to the heat headlines. A sfc cold front is progged to arrive near the Canadian Border at around 18Z this afternoon and then continue its southeastward trajectory through the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Strong sfc destabilization is expected ahead of this front with MUCAPE climbing up to around 3500 J/KG. Bulk shear will be modest at around 25 kts, but this is similar to yesterday where the region experienced fairly widespread storm coverage despite relatively weak forcing for ascent. As a result, expecting greater storm coverage today given the extra forcing from the advancing cold front. The main risk will be for locally damaging winds given precip loading and high DCAPE but severe hail is also possible within the stronger cells. The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of NH along with southwestern ME into a SLGT Risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe storms today with a MRGL (level 1 out of 5) for the rest of the region. Went ahead and added SVR wording into the grids to account for this. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible given precipitable water values between 1.5-2.0 inches and there is some training potential with relatively short corfidi vectors and warm cloud heights at around 10k ft. Antecedent conditions are overall dry though and therefore any flooding should be localized. The Weather Prediction Center has a MRGL risk for excessive rainfall. Latest CAM runs indicate storms will move offshore between 8pm to 12AM tonight with perhaps just a few lingering showers overnight. Lows will range from around 60 across the north to the lower 70s south. Nighttime fog will be likely, especially at locations that receive rainfall during the day.
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&& .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/...
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The cold front will stall somewhere between southern NH and central MA on Friday as a wave of low pressure rides along it. This will result in mainly cloudy skies, periods of showers, and perhaps a few rumbles of thunder through the day. High temperatures will be significantly cooler with northeast flow prevailing with readings ranging from the 70s to low 80s from north to south.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Periods of showers and storms are likely at times through the weekend and into early next week as we find ourselves on the northern side of the ridge. Cooler conditions are expected on Saturday, but a warming trend resumes on Sunday with temps warming into the 80s and continuing into early next week. Drier conditions likely return by midweek next week as highs warm back well into the 80s.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
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Short Term...Patchy FG will continue to result in localized IFR to LIFR restrictions through around 12Z this morning, especially at KLEB. VFR conditions and southwesterly flow will then follow through early afternoon before a cold front drops south, resulting in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms and possible LIFR restrictions. Any storm will be capable of locally strong winds, +RA, and GR. Storms clear by late evening with just patchy FG overnight. Additional restrictions are then possible on Friday as periods of SHRA persist under Northeasterly flow. LLWS is not expected outside of TSRA. Long Term...Periods of showers and storms bring restrictions at times Friday night through Monday, especially in the afternoon hours. Otherwise, mainly VFR conditions are expected. VFR conditions likely then prevail next Tuesday and Wednesday.
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&& .MARINE...
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Short Term...Southwesterly flow prevails today at 10-20 kts and seas of 3-4 ft. Winds turn westerly late behind a cold front tonight and then become northeasterly on Friday but remaining below SCA levels. Showers and gusty thunderstorms are likely late afternoon and evening . Long Term...High pressure gradually builds in for the weekend. SCA conditions are then possible next week as southerly flow increases as the high moves offshore.
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&& .CLIMATE... RECORD HIGHS FOR JUNE 20: Concord-98, 1993 Augusta-95, 1953 Portland-93, 2020 RECORD WARM LOWS FOR June 20: Concord-73 in 1931; Augusta-67 in 1974; Portland-69 in 2020 && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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ME...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening for MEZ012-018>028-033. Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening for MEZ013-014. NH...Excessive Heat Warning from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening for NHZ006-008>010-012>015. Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening for NHZ002>005-007-011. MARINE...None.
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&& $$ NEAR TERM...Tubbs SHORT TERM...Tubbs LONG TERM...Clair