NWS Gray, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
213
FXUS61 KGYX 090531
AFDGYX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
131 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Some uncertainty how widespread a wetting rain may occur Friday
into Friday night as a cold front passes over the region.
Otherwise, low impact weather continues for much of the forecast
period.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Dry weather continues today, with a warming trend into
Friday.
2. A disturbance along the cold front to the west will bring a
chance of showers late Friday into Friday night.
3. Even warmer temperatures are possible early next week but
will come with chances for rain showers.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
High pressure slowly shifting east will bring breezy return
flow into New England today. Forecast soundings are very dry
aloft, driven mainly by this high`s presence from New England
into the South. Its influence has left the region void of IVT,
thus a disconnect from moisture source regions.
Low level flow will be somewhat more moist in proximity to
onshore flow along the Gulf of Maine coast, but interior RH
values will fall towards 20 to 30 percent as temps climb higher
into the low to mid 50s.
A front approaches from the west tonight, but seems to wash out
with little chance of precip into the western mountains. A bit
more breeze and cloud overnight in proximity to the hung up
front will create a slightly mild Thursday night, setting up a
warmer day Friday.
Daytime highs extend into the low to mid 60s Friday. A few
higher readings toward 70 may be possible across southern NH,
but this will largely be determined how clouds thicken through
the course of the day.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
Moisture along the cold front draped across Quebec will
advanced northeast through the day Friday. This will result in
thickening clouds through the day and showers arriving during
the afternoon. Guidance is slow to bring these across the entire
CWA, favoring the mountains for any daytime precip. It may not
be until later overnight that showers make their way towards
interior and coastal locations. Overall QPF continues to be
limited, likely pointed to the showery nature and need to
overcome such a dry airmass downstream. It may be hard to get
widespread wetting rains from this evening south and east of the
mountains by Saturday morning.
Behind the front, dry continental air returns on a NW breeze.
Temps will be cooler than Friday, but still will see highs
nearing the low to mid 50s.
KEY MESSAGE 3 DESCRIPTION...
An unsettled but very warm start to next week is likely as
strong 500mb ridging persists over the northeast. Low pressure
looks to bring showery weather on Monday and potentially
Tuesday. A decent amount of uncertainty still remains on how
warm temperatures will be. Showers and denser cloud cover may
suppress temperatures from getting as warm as they could get,
but breaks in the clouds on Monday and Tuesday could allow for
more intense diurnal heating. Tuesday does appear to be the
drier of the two days, which likely means that it will also be
the hotter of the two days. Even a few days out, guidance is
very hot with even the 10th percentile of the NBM above the
climatological average. Ridging may continue into the midweek
with hot temperatures potentially sticking around beyond
Tuesday.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Through 06z Friday...VFR today with S breeze increasing 20 to 25
kts this afternoon. Short periods of below criteria LLWS
pre-dawn as winds increase to 25 kts off the surface. These mix
more readily into the morning. Cirrus begins to invade from the
west later. Could see some stratus or marine fog build up along
the coast into Thursday night, but confidence is still low.
Outlook...
Friday: Low stratus or fog may occur near the coast at times
with higher potential for RKD. Otherwise VFR.
Friday Night: Restrictions possible due to showers.
Saturday and Sunday: VFR expected. NW gusts 20-30 kts across
the interior Saturday.
Monday: Restrictions possible due to showers.
&&
.MARINE...
Below SCA conditions expected through Thursday. Southerly flow
increases, with some 25 kt gusts possible on the outer zones. In
addition, fog may develop, reducing visibility.
Light and variable winds are expected over the waters Friday through
Sunday. Seas look to be around 2-5ft with SCA issuance unlikely
during this period. By Monday morning, southerly winds pick up to
near Gale Force, with seas rising to 5-7ft.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Cornwell/Ekster/Palmer
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion
