NWS Gray, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
424
FXUS61 KGYX 082354
AFDGYX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
754 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No major changes were needed for this forecast package. A
beautiful evening continues across the region.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Dry weather continues through Thursday with warming temperatures.
2. Warm temperatures expected Friday before a cold front brings
a chance of showers Friday night and slightly cooler but still
above normal temperatures over the weekend.
3. Even warmer temperatures are possible early next week
ahead but will come with chances for rain showers.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
High pressure will slide off into the waters this evening and
an upper ridge axis moves across the region overnight. This
should lead to optimal radiational cooling conditions under a
clear sky and calm winds. Thus, we trended more towards the NBM
10th percentile for lows tonight, ranging from the low to mid
teens north, to the low to mid 20s south.
On Thursday, we will transition back to southwest flow aloft as the
next trough starts to approach. A cold front will also start it`s
approach which will lead to a tightening pressure gradient and gusty
southerly winds through the day. Sustained values will mainly be in
the 10 to 15 mph range outside of the higher terrain (where we could
see readings more in the 20 to 25 mph range). Gusts will mainly be
in the 25 to 30 mph range. The atmosphere will also remain fairly
dry on Thursday outside of coastal areas which may see a dewpoint
bump with the return flow. Outside of the coast in western Maine,
afternoon relative humidity will dip into the 20 to 30 percent
range. Much of New Hampshire will be even drier with widespread
minimum humidity values in the 20 to 25 percent range. Some readings
in the upper teens are not out of the question over southern New
Hampshire. The warmup also continues on Thursday with highs forecast
to range from the upper 40s and lower 50s north, to the mid to upper
50s over southern New Hampshire, and mainly in the lower 50s across
coastal and interior Maine.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
Friday will be even warmer than Thursday as southwesterly flow
continues to bring warmer air into the region ahead of a cold
front. New Hampshire and interior western ME are expected to
climb well into the 50s and 60s, but the cooler locations will
be along and closer to the coast, especially from near Portland
to Rockland where the onshore flow could hold temps in the 40s
to lower 50s.
The cold front crosses northern New England Friday night, bringing a
round of rain showers along with it. Rainfall amounts are expected
to be light and mostly in the 0.10" to 0.25" range with most of the
precip ending by sunrise Saturday.
Temperatures come down a bit behind the front on Saturday but will
still be near or just above normal with most in the seeing highs in
the 50s with mostly-partly sunny skies. The exception will be the
mountains where more clouds and a chance for rain and snow showers
will keep temps in the 40s. It will also be breezy with gusts of 25
to 30 mph based on forecast soundings, but these will diminish
toward sunset as we lose daytime mixing and high pressure builds
more overhead. Dry conditions continue into Sunday, but the
high will begin to shift to the south and east as a front
approaches. High temperatures will again be mostly in the 50s,
and the WAA may bring parts of southern NH closer to 60 degrees.
KEY MESSAGE 3 DESCRIPTION...
As mentioned earlier, a frontal boundary enters the picture early
next week as low pressure passes near or just north of the Great
Lakes and eventually into the Canadian Maritimes. We could see a
couple of very warm days as this front looks to remain north of the
area for at least Monday and possibly Tuesday before it potentially
crosses into or even south of northern New England Wednesday. At the
same time, multiple waves aloft could bring rounds of showers and
more cloudiness, which could hinder warming to an extent.
There remains a decent spread in temperature guidance, so it`s still
uncertain how warm we will actually get. However, the encouraging
news is that even the NBM 10th percentile would result in above
normal temps, and even the 25th percentile is a fair amount warmer
than that. As of right now, Tuesday looks to be the warmer of the
days, but that can certainly change.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Through 00z Friday...VFR expected through Thursday. Short
periods of below criteria LLWS possible this evening as winds
increase to 25 kts off the surface. These mix more readily
Thursday morning with southerly surface gusts up to 25 knots
possible. Cirrus begins to invade from the west later Thursday.
Outlook...
Thursday Night: Stratus or marine fog possible along the coast,
otherwise VFR.
Friday: Low stratus or fog may occur near the coast at times with
the higher potential for RKD. Otherwise VFR.
Friday night: MVFR to IFR restrictions possible as a cold front
brings a chance of rain showers and perhaps fog and low stratus
outside of precipitation.
Saturday-Sunday: VFR expected, except MVFR cigs possible at HIE on
Saturday.
Monday: Restrictions possible with a chance for rain showers.
&&
.MARINE...
Conditions remain below SCA thresholds until late Thursday
afternoon when southerly flow increases and some 25 kt gusts
return. Thursday into Thursday night will have to watch for
marine fog/stratus formation as moisture returns northward.
Friday-Wednesday...SCA conditions possible as a cold front
approaches and crosses Friday into Friday night. There may also
continue to be marine fog and stratus until the front passes.
High pressure builds across the waters over the weekend, and
then SCA conditions are possible as south to southwest flow
increases late Sunday into Monday with the high shifting to the
south and east and a frontal boundary approaching from the north
and west. The front may move toward or into the waters Tuesday
or Wednesday of next week with more SCA conditions possible.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Combs/Hargrove
AVIATION...Cornwell
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion
