NWS Gray, Maine Area Forecast Discussion
162
FXUS61 KGYX 270540
AFDGYX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
1240 AM EST Tue Jan 27 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Have dropped the winter headlines as snow comes to an end across
the area.
No significant changes to the extended forecast at this time.
Models continue to be in general agreement with dry and cold
weather through the rest of the work week. Will continue to
monitor for coastal storm development for this weekend.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Well below normal temperatures continue thru the second half
of the week. While apparent temperatures will get below zero,
it does not appear it will be cold enough for any headlines.
2. Cold but mainly dry weather continues through the rest of
the the work week with the potential for a bit of a warmup over
the weekend. Signals for another coastal storm are appearing for
this weekend but model spread continues to be rather wide with
low confidence in the forecast arising due to that.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
NWP continues strong agreement for below normal temps for the
foreseeable future. Generally looking at 5 to 10 degrees below
normal, which is well below normal but unlikely to set any
records. There will also be breezy northwest winds off and on
for much of the week. This will drop wind chills overnight below
zero, as cold as 10 or 15 below in the mtns. During the day
those values may climb into the single digits or low teens, but
it will certainly feel very cold out there.
Occasional reinforcing cold fronts will arrive with shortwave
trofs pinwheeling around the larger upper low, and we do have
our eye on one for this afternoon. As it swings thru snow
showers are likely to become more widespread. I will maintain
some mention of snow showers in the afternoon forecast despite
the NBM have low or no PoP inland. Bufkit soundings have the
snow growth zone near saturated and in the very low levels, so
any lift in that layer should produce some flakes. Unlike this
past evening where the upper levels were saturated as well, they
will be drier this afternoon. So any accumulation will be more
like a dusting.
KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
Cold weather continues for the rest of the work week but not
brutally cold. There may be snow showers from time to time mid
to late week under mean troughing but impacts will be minimal.
We continue to monitor the potential for a coastal storm for
this weekend. However, ensemble spread is much too wide at this
juncture to have much confidence in any significant weather
impacts here. A large portion of the guidance currently
relegates this storm to the southeast and mid atlantic coasts
with minimal impacts here. However, there is still plenty of
time for this to change and we will obviously continue to
monitor.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Widespread IFR conditions driven mainly by light snow and lower
VIS. Gradually this will improve from west to east and
generally lift to VFR as winds turn northwesterly and downslope
off the mtns. The exception will be north of the White Mtns
around HIE, where lingering MVFR CIGs are possible. VFR
conditions are expected most of the day until the upper low
moves overhead during the afternoon. Scattered snow showers and
local IFR or lower conditions are possible.
Outlook:
Wednesday: VFR conditions expected.
Thursday-Saturday: VFR should prevail at most terminals as no
significant weather is expected through the second half of the
week. HIE could see brief periods of MVFR ceilings and Vsbys in
snow showers.
&&
.MARINE...
With the upper trof swinging thru the region a secondary cold
front will cross the waters this morning. Winds turn
northwesterly and increase. Marginal gale force gusts are
possible well outside the bays thru sunrise. With cold temps in
place, periods of moderate freezing spray are possible thru
midday as well. As the core of the cold air aloft moves overhead
this afternoon, snow showers will become more numerous over the
waters. Local visibility below 1 mile is possible. Otherwise
SCA to near SCA conditions are expected to prevail thru Wed.
Long term...Sub-SCA conditions are expected into Saturday but a
period of SCA conditions will be possible Thursday night.
Otherwise, higher wind gusts and seas may not return until
Sunday and will be dependent on the track of a coastal low
pressure system.
&&
.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...Gale Warning from 1 AM to 7 AM EST Tuesday for
ANZ150-152-154. Freezing Spray Advisory from 1 AM to 10 AM EST
Tuesday for ANZ150>154. Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EST
Tuesday for ANZ151-153.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Ekster/Legro
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion
