


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
680 FXUS61 KGYX 111832 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 232 PM EDT Mon Aug 11 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure remains in control for the couple of days, and temperatures continue to rise through Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the Northeast. The ridge starts to break down mid week and that will allow for some chances of showers and thunderstorms as a cold front approaches. The weekend looks to be dry at this time with a warming trend possible by Sunday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Impacts and Key Messages: * A Heat Advisory remains in effect through tonight as some locations only fall into the upper 60s tonight. Another afternoon with a robust diurnally driven cumulus field across the area. The difference today is that we have yet to see any showers develop. Not going to completely count them out yet, so maintained the isolated wording for parts of the mountains, but it is looking less likely than past days. Otherwise, a hot day has come to fruition with many locations boasting heat index values in the 90-95F range early this afternoon. They could still go up another degree or two as there is still some heating left in the day. Clear skies and light winds should lead to radiational cooling once again tonight, with temperatures bottoming out in the low 60s. Locations in the heat advisory may remain in the mid to upper 60s, which is better than what we saw with previous events in terms of nighttime relief, but may still allow for additional accumulation of heat stress. For this reason the Heat Advisory remains in effect overnight. Valley fog can be expected again tonight. The dry air has been hindering the development of fog elsewhere, but low level moisture is increasing, so will continue with a persistence fog forecast as it becomes more likely. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Impacts and Key Messages: * Heat index values will reach the mid-90s again Tuesday. A Heat Advisory remains in effect. The ridge axis remains overhead Tuesday with the center of high pressure remaining to our southeast. This results in continued warm, moist southeast flow that will sustain 850mb temps in the +18C to +20C range and thusly, high temperatures in the 90F to 95F range. A Heat Advisory remains in effect as heat index values remain similar to today (Monday). The main difference will be more in the way of offshore flow early on in the day that will stave off a seabreeze until later in the day. This will allow these hot temperatures to make it right down to the water. I think the dry air finally wins out Tuesday and suppresses the formation of any mountain showers so have taken the isolated shower mention out. Radiational cooling should bottom temperatures out in the low to mid 60s, with some upper 60s in southeast New Hampshire. This will once again lead to valley fog development, and advection of marine fog/low stratus onto the Midcoast with continued southerly flow. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Key Messages * Heat continues Wednesday, but additional clouds or midday showers may affect how long heat indices are in the mid 90s. * Cold front midweek may not be overly strong, leading to an additional warmer than normal day on Thursday. * Rain chances in the extended forecast remain focused on the mid to late week cold front, with high pressure returning for the weekend. Details: Approaching cold front will bring clouds and the chance of showers to another hot day Wednesday. Timing of the front has narrowed, but strength is in question. Current guidance keeps the front west of the forecast area until Wednesday evening, with shower chances mainly focused into the late afternoon. This gives morning and early afternoon temperatures an opportunity to jump into the upper 80s and lower 90s for another day. With this question of cloud impact on the table, opted to not extend the Heat Advisory into Wed at this time. Best chance for building heat may be the lower Kennebec Valley where clouds may hold off until the evening. Showers and thunderstorms linger into the evening as the front nears. Timing of the day, limited shear, marginal lapse rates, and dry air give pause to assigning stronger wording for these storms, but CAPE and some lift will be present. Front should be exiting the coast come Thursday morning. Lacking stronger CAA behind the front, it acts more as a lifting agent vs. a rapid change of airmasses. NBM temps have been back and forth over the week as to how quickly temps fall. Relief doesn`t seem to fully take effect until Friday, as Thursday`s highs again push into the upper 80s to lower 90s. While hot temps won`t be as widespread, it will still be warm with a core of warmest temps across the south interior. High pressure settles over the area for the weekend with additional rain chances appearing limited until early next week. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Short Term...Valley fog and low stratus may cause restrictions at LEB and RKD again tonight, with restrictions less likely elsewhere. Ceilings will be VFR through Tuesday with, valley fog and low stratus likely again Tuesday night. Long Term...VFR through Wednesday with some coastal fog and stratus mainly along the Midcoast towards RKD. A passing cold front will bring MVFR/IFR conditions Wednesday night into Thursday morning along with some SHRA. These will trend VFR into the afternoon with high pressure set to take hold this weekend. && .MARINE... Short Term...Wind gusts and seas remain below SCA criteria through Tuesday night as high pressure remains over the waters. Generally south southwesterly flow will continue with wind gusts 10-15kts. Increasing low level moisture may allow for patchy fog to develop over the waters tonight and Tuesday night. Long Term...A cold front will slowly approach the waters Wednesday night, passing Thursday morning. It will be weak, and a wind shift may not occur until Thursday evening. Biggest impact through the period may be occasional marine stratus or fog that could reduce visibility at times. && .CLIMATE... Daily record highs and year(s) set for Tuesday, August 12 through Wednesday, August 13 for Portland, Augusta, and Concord. Portland Augusta Concord Aug 12 99F (2016, 1944) 93F (2002) 99F (2016, 1944) Aug 13 99F (1947) 94F (2004) 99F (1944) && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for MEZ012>014-018>022- 033. NH...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for NHZ010-012-013. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR/SHORT TERM...Baron LONG TERM...Cornwell