NWS Gray, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
089
FXUS61 KGYX 030630
AFDGYX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
230 AM EDT Fri Apr 3 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Little appreciable change to the going forecast as latest
guidance shows reasonable continuity in the pattern for the next
few days. Lowered high temperatures for portions of central and
coastal ME for today.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Slippery travel possible for the morning commute in the
winter weather advisory area, especially higher elevations.
2. Temperatures remain above normal with rain likely from
Saturday night into Sunday night. A return to drier weather is
then likely into the middle of next week with near to a little
below normal temperatures.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
Freezing rain should come to an end during the morning hours in
the advisory area (earlier in southern sections) as temperatures
rise. Impacts look fairly minimal but a slippery morning commute
may be in store in spots today, especially at higher elevations
where temperatures will be colder.
We lowered high temperatures to be more in line with CAMs for
today on the ME coastal plain and also central zones. The low
level cold air mass is going to be tougher to dislodge than the
NBM suggests (at least during the daylight hours). Temperatures
elsewhere remain the same as southern and western NH should warm
up appreciably.
Cold front sweeps across the forecast area around midnight
tonight with little fanfare. However, the southwesterly flow
ahead of the front should allow temperatures across central and
coastal ME to finally warm into the 50s.
Another high pressure ridge pushes down from the northeast
Saturday allowing winds to once again go northeast area-wide
making for cooler temperatures but dry weather.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
Saturday will feature dry conditions with partly sunny skies as
an H5 ridge axis crests overhead. Above average temperatures are
expected with highs into the 40s across the north and along the
immediate coast with 50s/60s inland south of the mountains. This
ridge will begin exiting to the east on Saturday night as
stacked low pressure exits the Upper Great Lakes Region and
towards Quebec. This will send a sfc warm front northward,
allowing for increasing clouds along with an increasing chance
for light rain by early Sunday morning. Some sleet and/or
freezing rain is possible across mainly the mountains and
towards the Canadian Border but it should be just plain rain
elsewhere as lows fall into the middle to upper 30s.
The warm sector will move into the region on Sunday ahead of a
trailing cold front, which will cross from north to south on
Sunday evening and night. A widespread wetting rainfall is
expected with high temperatures once again into the 50s and 60s.
Rain will end on Sunday evening with lows mainly into the 30s.
Mainly dry conditions are then likely Monday through the middle
of next week, although some upslope rain and snow showers will
be possible due to persistent northwesterly flow. Temperatures
will trend to near or a little below seasonable averages.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
IFR conditions early this morning will give way to VFR across
southern NH starting around 18z which will then spread slowly
north and northeast. However, portions of central and Midcoast
ME won`t lose the low clouds and fog until evening when a cold
front moves through. The mountains may remain MVFR for a good
portion of tonight. VFR conditions are expected Saturday daytime
with northeast winds.
Outlook:
Saturday night: Clouds thicken and lower with rain developing.
MVFR to IFR likely.
Sunday: MVFR-IFR expected with rain and low ceilings.
Monday: VFR likely, chance of a stray snow shower in northern
New Hampshire.
Tuesday: VFR conditions likely with an isolated chance (009.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM EDT Friday for MEZ012>014-
020>022-033.
NH...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM EDT Friday for NHZ001>006.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Ekster/Schroeter/Tubbs
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion
