


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
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956 FXUS61 KGYX 040630 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 230 AM EDT Fri Jul 4 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A much cooler and drier air mass settles in for Independence Day. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s and comfortable relative humidities are forecast. The weekend will gradually get warmer and more humid with shower chances mainly confined to the mountains on Sunday. Hot temperatures make a return late this weekend into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... A pleasant day ahead as a drier airmass brings a relief from recent humid conditions. Temperatures top out in the mid to upper 80s across southern NH into the coastal plain of ME and the lower Kennebec Valley. It may feel a few degrees cooler with a northwest wind gusting 20 to 25 mph at times. There will be a shallow moist layer in the low levels that produces scattered to broken ceilings late this morning through the afternoon. Near overcast skies will be possible towards the US/CAN border as some of this moisture gets trapped by terrain. Also can`t rule out some passing showers in the mountains of western ME as this moisture combined with cooler air aloft deepens clouds. Those adventuring the higher summits today should be aware that stronger winds and cooler temperatures are likely with elevation, and there can be a great contrast from trail-head to peak. Wind chill values in the Presidentials are forecast to spend much of today and tonight at or around freezing. Pack accordingly, and know your limits. In other recreation awareness, today`s NW winds will create good fetch across larger inland lakes. For Winnipesaukee and Sebago, this could mean wave heights of 2 to 4 ft at parts of the lake. Winds will subside late this afternoon and evening, along with a thinning of daytime clouds. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/... Shower activity pushes east by this evening, with winds subsiding and skies clearing for the most part. Kept with the day crew`s thinking on a cool night for the Whites and foothills with good radiational cooling once conditions settle. This could bring lows into the 40s, with low to mid 50s elsewhere for the night. Temperatures begin a warming trend Saturday and for the rest of the weekend. Values will climb into the 80s and upper 70s for much of the area as winds shift SW. Not as breezy with increasing clouds, topping out around 15 mph. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Long Term Update: Not much change to going forecast thinking in the long term. Of note is the continued hot temperatures forecast for Sunday and Monday. Have included mention in the HWO that heat indices will be at or near 95 for a portion of southern NH and interior southern ME both/either day. NBM IQR continues to tighten on both of these days, increasing confidence. There remains uncertainty for precip timing and coverage Monday as the main boundary fcst remains draped along or just north of the US/CAN border. Key Messages: * Temperatures will be above normal through the period...with some potential for heat advisory thresholds to be reached across southern New Hampshire on Monday depending on cloud cover/precipitation potential * Machine learning guidance suggests Monday with the best potential for severe thunderstorms...with some weak signals beyond this. However...confidence is low on this given uncertainty with potential TC development off the southeast coast...and this system/s potential to slow the frontal progression into our area early next week. Details: Saturday Night-Sunday: Northwest flow aloft back westerly through the weekend as H5 ridge moves into the region. T8s warm substantially /+6C/ from Saturday afternoon through Sunday with return flow pushing dewpoints into the 60s on Sunday. Monday-Tuesday: Shortwave trough moves into the region during this period with some potential for a frontal passage with shower/thunderstorm chances. There are conflicting signals on the timing of this front...as potential TC activity off the southeast coast acts to build the downstream ridge and slow the overall progression of the front. Given increasing moisture south of the front...heat headlines may be necessary for southern areas during this period contingent on either 1) clouds/storm activity ahead of the front and/or 2) shower activity lifting north and east ahead of the potential tropical system off the SE coast. Wednesday-Thursday: Ensembles paint a quieter picture to end the long term with weak high pressure building into the area behind the early week cold front. Somewhat drier and cooler air is expected...though temperatures are still expected to remain above normal through the end of the forecast. && .AVIATION /05Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Short Term...Valley fog develops overnight, and retreats after sunrise. MVFR ceilings may be present for a portion of the day for terminals in the western ME mountains and northern NH. A trend towards VFR is expected later this afternoon and overnight. NW winds increase this morning, with gusts to 25 kt. VFR Saturday, less gusty. Long Term...VFR conditions are expected to persist through the weekend /outside of some potential for morning haze/...with an increasing potential for shower/thunderstorm activity on Monday with the approach of a cold front. This will increase the potential for restrictions. && .MARINE... Short Term...Conditions below SCA as NW winds increase during the daytime. Winds slacken this evening, becoming SW for Saturday. This will allow slow build of wave heights through Sunday. Long Term...Wave heights may build to 4 to 5 ft Sunday evening. By Monday...increasing moisture will result in the potential for fog over the waters. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...Cornwell SHORT TERM...Cornwell LONG TERM...Arnott/Cornwell