Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Graphics & Text |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
292 FXUS61 KGYX 160743 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 343 AM EDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
High pressure will build over southeastern New England today, allowing for continued mild temperatures and low humidity. A warm front will move into the region Monday followed by a stretch of very hot and humid conditions through the week.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Nighttime microphysics satellite imagery early this morning shows clear skies over the region with surface based weather stations indicating light and variable winds. These conditions have allowed for strong radiational cooling with widespread readings across the north into the 30s. This could continue to result in the formation of frost for a few more hours. Further south readings are primarily into the 40s and lower 50s. A few additional degrees of cooling can be expected through sunrise. Surface high pressure will build over southeastern New England today with increasing WAA aloft helping to push h850 temperatures up to around +8C. This will allow highs to reach the lower to middle 70s in most spots, possibly near 80 in the Merrimack River Valley. Light winds will allow for developing onshore flow, which will keep coastal locations a little cooler. It will otherwise be a partly to mostly sunny day. Clouds will begin to increase tonight with lows into the 40s across the normally colder spots and middle 50s elsewhere. Some patchy fog could develop overnight as well.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
A surface warm front will lift northward over our area on Monday with increasing southerly flow. Mainly cloudy skies during the morning will become mostly sunny by the afternoon. A few widely scattered showers and perhaps rumble of thunder will be possible through late morning but most locations will likely remain dry. High temperatures will range from the 60s across the Mid-Coast due to the onshore wind with 70s across interior western ME and middle 80s in south-central NH.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
*** The heat is on as potentially record breaking temperatures arrive for the start of Summer *** Remarkable height rises continue on Tuesday across the Northeast. This is rare for June and with height rises approaching 600 dm at 500 mb over New York City, this anomaly is particularly significant as we are still in the middle of the month. The Euro ensemble suggests a 45 to 50 percent chance of heights greater than 597 DM at WFO GYX. The highest 500 mb height ever measure at GYX (by our balloon launch sounding) was 598 DM set on July 5th in 2018. In any case, widespread 90s can be expected across the region with the highest readings over southern New Hampshire. It is important to note that along and near the coastline a cooling sea breeze will form. In fact, temperatures may hold in the 70s to lower 80s for highs along the beaches and peninsulas as a south to southeast onshore breeze develops. Surface dew points will be on the increase as well. Expect this moisture to climb and reach the mid to upper 60s. There remains some drier air aloft to mix down per latest Bufkit soundings. Mixing levels may reach 7K feet. This moisture will allow for patchy overnight fog to develop across portions of the region. The large dome, an upper level ridge will be parked over the Northeast again on Wednesday. Guidance has trended warmer for this day including the coastline where temperatures will climb rapidly through the 80s despite a sea breeze. Across the interior, widespread 90s expected with a few communities over southern New Hampshire flirting with 100 degrees. PWATS will be increasing with surface dew points into the upper 60s to lower 70s. This will allow for maritime fog to likely form over the cold Gulf of Maine water temperatures. However, with a west to southwesterly flow aloft, this fog should remain offshore. This flow will be weak however with the forecast 18Z winds at MWN expected to be 260 degrees at 16 knots. A warm night will follow with 60s and lower 70s for overnight lows. An Excessive Heat Watch has been issued for interior southern NH from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. This is where the greatest confidence is for afternoon heat indices to approach 105 degrees. Additional heat headlines will be needed for much of the area away from the coast as forecast confidence increases. Thursday will be a repeat day with hazy, hot and humid conditions. Compressional warming ahead of an approaching cold front may balance out increasing clouds to determine the expected forecast highs. Nevertheless, widespread 90s and possibly low 100s remain plausible. A few late afternoon showers and thunderstorms may develop along the front, mainly over central and northern areas. It will be slight less hot on Friday. Never the less, hazy, hot and humid conditions will end out the work week and into Saturday.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Short Term...VFR conditions will persist today through the foreseeable future. Light and variable winds early today will become southerly at 5-10 kts at KPSM, KPWM, and KRKD due to a sea breeze. There is a low-end chance for patchy fog tonight but this is of low forecast confidence. Southerly winds can be expected on Monday at 10-15 kts along with widely scattered -SHRA. No LLWS is expected through the period. Long Term...Mainly VFR conditions through Wednesday followed by more showers and thunderstorms with a cold frontal passage on Thursday. Areas of IFR conditions are possible as well during the night time period with patchy valley fog.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
Short Term...High pressure will build over the waters today through Monday with winds and seas remaining below SCA thresholds. Long Term...Winds and seas will primarily be out of the south during the extended portion of the forecast and below SCA thresholds. Highest wind gusts likely will be during the afternoon hours as the sea breeze attempts to form.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .CLIMATE...
-- Changed Discussion --
Record breaking high temperatures and warm overnight low temperatures are likely Tuesday through Friday of next week. Here are the records... RECORD HIGHS FOR JUNE 19: Concord-98, 1995 Augusta-98, 1995 Portland-94, 1995 RECORD HIGHS FOR JUNE 20: Concord-98, 1993 Augusta-95, 1953 Portland-93, 2020
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
ME...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening for MEZ024>028. NH...Excessive Heat Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday evening for NHZ008-012-013-015. MARINE...None.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ NEAR/SHORT TERM...Tubbs LONG TERM...Cannon CLIMATE...Tubbs