499 FXUS61 KGYX 192318 AFDGYXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 718 PM EDT Fri Sep 19 2025
.SYNOPSIS... Winds will be diminishing this evening and tonight as high pressure builds in. High pressure settles in for the weekend, bringing a fresh cool and dry airmass to New England. Light showers are possible for the first part of next week but otherwise mainly dry conditions are expected to persist.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
7pm Update: A quiet evening continues across the region as northwest winds start to relax. These winds should diminish even more over the next couple of hours, becoming light overnight. No major changes were needed for this update. Just blended in the latest observations to the going forecast and updated the short term Aviation discussion below.
Previous Discussion: Clear skies and light winds will make for good radiational cooling tonight for much of the area, especially across the north where temperatures could reach the upper 20s to around 30 degrees in the northern valleys and lower to middle 30s in the foothills. Freeze and Frost headlines remain in effect for these areas.
Farther south, temperatures will range from the mid 30s to lower 40s with the mid 30s mainly expected in the normally cooler spots, where patchy frost will also be possible. More of a breeze along the immediate coast may keep temps some areas in the middle 40s.
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.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT/... The high pressure settles on top of New England for Saturday, giving the region a slightly cooler and sunny day with lighter winds, followed by a clear, cold night with excellent radiational cooling.
High temperatures will be held to the 60s for most, but southern NH may still get to around 70 degrees. Lows Saturday night are expected to reach the mid 20s to around 30 degrees across the north, and with the exception of the coast and southern NH, widespread temperatures in the low-mid 30s are forecast for the rest of the area. Based on the current forecast, additional Frost and Freeze headlines will likely be needed for Saturday night, but to avoid confusion have held off due to the current Frost Advisory and Freeze Warning currently in effect for tonight.
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.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... High pressure overhead Sunday morning will begin moving offshore. The atmospheric column will still be plenty dry, with RH less than 40% through 400mb. While mostly sunny skies are expected as a result, could see some high cirrus working through...moreso than Saturday. Winds remain light, but will remain overnight as sfc winds shift south behind the high. Some low level moisture advection could bring some lower clouds or fog in overnight. The gentle breeze and chance of more clouds will reduce time of good cooling, and not expecting as cold temps Sunday night. Some patch frost may be possible in the valleys in northern NH and mtns of western ME.
Dry weather continues Monday, but increase of clouds should be apparent. Low pressure lifting north of the Great Lakes will bring a warm front into the Northeast Monday and Monday night. NE translation of the system means the slow arrival of deeper moisture for the chance of showers, after sunset.
Broad area of unsettled weather will then cross Tuesday and Wednesday. Main message here is on and off showers, with one or two periods of rainfall possible in the forecast area. Global models are still very much at odds of a more accurate depiction. The lack of a more defined synoptic feature reduces predictability as far as timing and amounts. But given PWATs and lack of sharper forcing features, the likelihood of much more than a quarter-inch of precipitation in any one remains below 40%.
This round of precipitation will be the last before another round of dry conditions late week as a cold front passes and low-RH air again takes residence in northern New England.
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.AVIATION /23Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Short Term...Mainly VFR, except fog may develop at HIE and LEB tonight and again Saturday night. Winds will continue to relax through the rest of tonight and Saturday as high pressure builds into New England.
Long Term...VFR Sunday as high pressure pushes east. Return flow overnight may bring low clouds or fog supporting IFR. This should lift slightly into the day Monday, but patchy MVFR still possible. Additional restrictions are possible into midweek with SHRA moving into the region through Wednesday.
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.MARINE... Short Term...High pressure begins to build in from the north this evening and tonight, and the pressure gradient may briefly tighten enough to support a period of N/NW wind gusts approaching 25 kt this evening into the early overnight hours. Otherwise, winds diminish the rest of tonight and Saturday as the high pressure continues to build overhead.
Long Term...High pressure overhead Sunday morning will drift over the Gulf of Maine into the afternoon and overnight. An increase in low clouds will be possible, potentially reducing vis into Monday morning. Unsettled weather arriving from the west into midweek will tend to shift southerly winds NE. Wave heights increase from 1-3 to 4-6 ft by Tuesday afternoon.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Saturday will be less breezy but much drier as an Arctic originating airmass builds into the region. Relative humidity values are expected to drop into the 20-30 percent range which, despite light winds, will continue elevated fire weather concerns, especially if fuels are readily available. The next chance for measurable rainfall arrives Monday night through Wednesday, but forecast amounts remain light.
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.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Saturday for MEZ007>009. Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Saturday for MEZ012>014- 033. NH...Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Saturday for NHZ001-002. Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Saturday for NHZ003-004. MARINE...None.
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NEAR TERM...Hargrove/Combs SHORT TERM...Combs LONG TERM...Cornwell
NWS GYX Office Area Forecast Discussion