Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
151 FXUS61 KGYX 111801 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 101 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2025 .SYNOPSIS... It will remain windy through late this evening and make it feel much colder than the thermometer reads. There will also be snow showers off and on in the higher terrain through tonight. Friday will be another chilly day with gusty winds and mountain snows. That will only come to an end as a coastal storm passes well out to sea Saturday night into Sunday. It may come close enough for a little light snow along the coast, but will most likely stay well enough away. That will be followed up by another very cold and gusty Monday. Expect the wind chills to remain in the teens and single digits. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Low pressure continues to deepen across the Canadian Maritimes, while high pressure builds in from the west tonight. This keeps gusty winds ongoing through the overnight hours as colder air moves in from the west. Upslope snow showers continue across the higher terrain, with any flurries or snow showers downwind of the mountains expected to dissipate through the evening hours. Cold temps return tonight, with teens and single digits expected across the region. Combined with the wind, wind chills drop below zero in most spots, with negative teen readings across the north. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... High pressure continues to gradually build in through the day tomorrow, but breezy and seasonably cold conditions continue through the day. Upslope snow showers continue across the higher terrain, with mainly sunny skies downwind of the mountains. Highs range from the teens across the north, to the 20s most places elsewhere, and near 30 right along the coast. Winds ease tomorrow night as the ridge axis moves across northern New England. Upslope snow showers dissipate through the evening across the higher terrain, with mainly clear skies expected in most spots through the overnight hours. Temps cool into the single digits and teens again tomorrow night, but wind chills won`t be much cooler than temps through the overnight. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Key Message: Generally below normal temps and precip as well as breezy thru the extended. Impacts: Mon looks to be another cold and gusty day with wind chills staying below 15 degrees for the day. It is a smaller chance but a storm passing out to sea may be able to bring some light snow to coastal areas late in the weekend. Forecast Details: Late Sat into Sun a passing shortwave trof will ride the baroclinic zones and spread some light snow along the path. Right now the front looks to be far enough south that widespread light snow is not likely in the forecast area. However it would not take much of a shift to bring some snow to southern NH and coastal western Maine. DESI cluster analysis does show how a stronger shortwave would help to bring higher QPF and thus snowfall amounts north. However at this time that is generally less than 20 percent of ensemble members. But this does represent a reasonable worst case scenario...several inches of snow for the far southeastern zones. Otherwise it will return to well below normal temps behind that trof as a reinforcing cold front arrives. Mon should see high temps stay in the 20s south of the mtns yet again. The bulk of the anomalous cold will be to our south though as we start to approach our coldest time of the year. NAEFS guidance suggest the air mass is a once a year type event for this time of year...so cold but not extreme. However it will also be gusty coupled with the cold...so daytime wind chills will likely be in the teens and single digits. After Mon the pattern will generally be control by high pressure to our southwest thru the middle of the week. Temps will be near normal and precip below normal. However beyond that extended model guidance is starting to show an active period coming up. && .AVIATION /17Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Short Term...VFR prevails through tomorrow in most spots, except HIE where MVFR ceilings linger through at least Friday afternoon. LEB may also see brief periods of marginal MVFR ceilings through tonight. Gusty west winds of 25-30kt gradually ease through the overnight hours, with gusts closer to 20kt late tonight and Friday. Long Term...Generally VFR conditions expected thru midweek. The exceptions will be that north of the mtns may experience local MVFR or lower conditions in upslope snow showers that will continue off and on. The other will be along the coast Sat night into Sun. Some light snow is possible and if it occurs areas of IFR or lower conditions could be expected. Mon will also be gusty and west northwest surface gusts of 25 kt or more are possible. && .MARINE... Short Term...Westerly gales continue into Friday afternoon as low pressure deepens across the Canadian Maritimes, and high pressure builds in from the west. SCA conditions linger through Friday evening, and then continue to slow ease tomorrow night. Long Term...It will be generally quiet on the coastal waters until overnight Sat into Sun. Some of that light snow may reduce visibility but winds and seas will remain below SCA thresholds. That is until Mon when it becomes gusty again. A period of gale force gusts is possible...and this may include the bays as well. Winds and seas will generally remain gusty thru midweek as high pressure builds eastward. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...Gale Warning until 4 PM EST Friday for ANZ150>154. && $$ NEAR TERM...Clair SHORT TERM...Clair LONG TERM...Legro AVIATION...Clair/Legro MARINE...Clair/Legro