NWS Gray, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
132
FXUS61 KGYX 232304
AFDGYX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
704 PM EDT Mon Mar 23 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Little change to the going forecast for this evening. Inverted
trough is finally aiding in narrow snowband development across
northern NH which will develop southward this evening.
Otherwise, occasional snow showers elsewhere with minor accums
but some slippery spots as temperatures fall.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Snow showers develop through the afternoon and continue into
the evening hours. Clearer skies return for Tuesday, before
another front approaches Tuesday night.
2. Expect an active mid to late work week with multiple
precipitation chances and temperatures around or a bit below
normal for late March.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
An inverted trough progresses through northern New England this
afternoon and evening as a wave of low pressure deepens while
exiting the Gulf of Maine. With this set up, snow showers are
expected to continue to blossom through the afternoon hours
across much of the area. The focus for the heaviest snow showers
continue to be across most of New Hampshire, especially through
the middle of the state from north to south. In these areas,
heavy snow showers could quickly put down 1-3 inches of snow in
a few hours. These are most likely late this afternoon and
evening.
These snow showers gradually dissipate through the late evening
and into the overnight hours as the trough moves off to the
east. Colder air returns late tonight as skies clear, with lows
dropping into the teens in 20s.
High pressure builds in during the daytime on Tuesday, bringing
mainly sunny skies south of the mountains. Through the higher
terrain and north, upslope flow keeps skies mainly cloudy and
highs in the 30s. Highs south of the mountains warm back into
the low to mid 40s tomorrow.
A cold front then sags south Tuesday night, but likely doesn`t
make much progress south of the mountains. This spreads some
cloud cover southward overnight, and brings some scattered snow
showers near the Canadian border. This sets up lows to bottom
out in the 20s across most of the area.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
The first part of Wednesday will be fairly quiet but we could
see some snow showers through the day as a weak front moves
through. The snow squall potential seems to have decreased a
bit, but some locally heavy bursts of snow will be possible with
this activity; the best chances expected in and around the
mountains. Transient high pressure then moves through in the
late morning/early afternoon before the next wave approaches.
With this next disturbance, precipitation chances (snow or a mix
of rain and snow) will be maximized (50 to 70 percent) over the
mountains and foothills Wednesday evening through Thursday
morning.
Another system is then forecast to cross the region sometime in
the Thursday afternoon through Friday morning time frame which
could bring some more widespread precipitation. There are some
timing differences with this wave among the various ensembles
and their members, but precipitation with this system looks to
be mainly rain or a rain/snow mix. That being said, if
precipitation lingers into Friday morning we may see a few hours
of changeover to all snow for some locations.
Regarding temperatures, highs will mainly range from the 30s
north to the 40s south on Wednesday with a few lower 50s
possible across southern New Hampshire and southwest Maine.
Thursday should then be the warmest day of the week with highs
ranging from the upper 30s and lower 40s north, to the low to
mid 50s south (upper 50s and some lower 60s not out of the
question over southern New Hampshire). A modest cool down is
then looking likely Friday into the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
IFR in snow showers gradually improves overnight to MVFR and
VFR, except at HIE, and possibly LEB, where MVFR ceilings linger
into Tuesday. VFR then prevails Tuesday night, except at HIE
where some snow showers are possible.
Outlook (Wednesday through Saturday):
Wednesday: Brief periods of IFR possible under snow showers.
Wednesday night - Thursday night: IFR possible in rain and snow.
Friday - Friday night: Improving to VFR with possible restrictions
lingering in the mountains.
Saturday: VFR expected
&&
.MARINE...
SCA conditions continue as low pressure deepens across Atlantic
Canada. High pressure builds in Tuesday, bringing easing winds,
but seas likely take until Wednesday morning to subside below
5ft across the outer waters. An active pattern is expected to
continue through mid to late week, which will result in nearly
continuous SCA conditions. There is also a low chance for gale
force wind gusts Wednesday through Thursday depending on the
location and strength of developing low pressure over or just
east of the Gulf of Maine.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM EDT Wednesday for ANZ150-152-
154.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Clair/Ekster/Hargrove
AVIATION...
MARINE...
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion
