Hello everyone!

After analyzing the medium/long range forecasts (and double checking the calendar), I can finally say with confidence that today, May 9th, will be winter’s last hurrah here in Maine.

A coastal storm is currently bringing bands of snow to the area as it moves through the Gulf of Maine. After beginning as rain in some areas, snow is now being reported all the way to the coast. We have a few more hours of steady snow left to go before the storm moves east later this morning. During these next few hours, expect accumulations to range from absolutely nothing along the coast to a dusting on cold surfaces just away from the coast to as much as an inch in the foothills to 1-3″ in the mountains. Any discussion of accumulations is merely of interest to climatological record-keeping (and perhaps photography opportunities) and will have no impacts on road conditions or power lines (except maybe for northern Franklin and Somerset counties, or at elevations above 2,000 feet).

Steady snow will depart most of the area by around noon, potentially after changing back to rain along the immediate coast. As the storm intensifies in the Bay of Fundy during this time, expect northwest winds to begin picking up. Gusty winds will stay with us for the rest of the day as high pressure approaches from the west. These winds will be the most impactful weather observed today, as they are likely to gust over 50 mph across most of the region and as a result, are likely to result in power outages (especially where some snow has been able to accumulate on trees).

Along with the NW winds will come the opportunity for some sunny breaks downwind of the mountains. This sunshine will provide a (very) modest boost in temps near the surface. This slightly-less-cold air near the surface will then become unstable as record-breaking cold air moves in aloft. The net result will be the development of shallow convection across southern and western parts of the region later this afternoon. This convection will drop heavy snow, graupel, and possibly some small hail as it moves through during the late afternoon hours.

Here’s a nice loop of forecast model imagery showing steady precip this morning transitioning to squally precip this afternoon/evening. Squalls will settle down around sunset as daytime heating (what little of it we get today) fades.

High temps today will be near record lows thanks to the cold airmass moving in aloft and abundant cloud cover. Look for temps this afternoon to range from 30 in the mountains to 40 along the coast.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Clear skies are noted across much of the region this morning (except for some upsloping in the mountains) as a cold front moves off to our east. Dry air moving in behind that front will set the stage for our next interesting weather event later tonight. Ahead of that system, expect clouds to gradually increase from SW to NE later this afternoon/evening. High temps today will range from around 40 in the north to the upper 50s along most of the coastal plain.

So about that interesting weather tonight… well against all climatological odds, we are indeed getting some snow tonight/tomorrow morning as a nor’easter rapidly develops over the Gulf of Maine. Precipitation will arrive just after dark tonight in the form of rain for most outside the higher terrain. As temps cool in response to the diurnal cycle, evaporation, and advection by northerly winds, expect the rain/snow line to make a run towards the southeast beginning around midnight. By sunrise tomorrow, flakes will likely be flying all the way to the coast.

Any accumulations will be minimal outside the higher summits. Lower elevation parts of the mountains should pick up 3-6″ with 1-3″ in the foothills and a dusting at best along the coastal plain. Any snow that falls will quickly melt tomorrow as the sun comes out behind the storm. So this is a low impact event in every respect except to those who depend on warmth and sunshine to brighten their mood in these strange times. To those folks: you’ll get your preferred weather starting in a week to 10 days or so as we move out of “early spring” and into “late spring” (yeah, we’ve sorta skipped the middle part this year haven’t we).

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Overcast skies currently observed across much of the region will give way to a mix of sun and clouds later this afternoon as a coastal storm east of Cape Cod races off towards Nova Scotia. Any last light precipitation associated with this system over the Penobscot Bay area will taper off in the next hour or two. Once the system is gone, we’ll be left with a few hours of mostly sunny skies before daytime heating generates a cumulus field and clouds associated with our next disturbance begin to arrive from the west. That next system is a fairly strong cold front which will bring some showers and flurries to the region late tonight/early tomorrow morning.

The cold airmass moving in behind that front will set the stage for our next event on Friday night/Saturday morning. Yes, it will involve snow. No, not just at the highest summits. More details to come.

Before we have to worry about all that, step outside this afternoon and enjoy the (relatively) nice weather. Highs will range from 50 in the mountains and along the Midcoast to 60 in interior Maine and southeastern NH.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today will feature cool temps and increasingly cloudy skies as a coastal storm develops well to our south. While the precipitation associated with the storm itself won’t graze the coastline until late tonight/early tomorrow morning, some showers are expected to pop up this afternoon as morning sunshine and cool air aloft supports some modest instability. The best chance for some rain will be in the foothills and mountains this afternoon, and a little closer to the coast this evening. Get any outdoor activities or projects in during the morning hours for maximum enjoyment.

High temps will remain on the chilly side, ranging from around 50 in the mountains and along the coast to 55 in interior areas.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today will feature the return of much cooler weather as northwesterly flow pushes air straight from northern Canada into the region this morning. Not far to our northwest, over Ontario, temps are currently in the 10s and low 20s. That airmass, while it won’t be nearly as cold when it gets here, is what’s moving our way today. Because our winds have a bit more of a northerly component today (not pure NW, more like NNW), we unfortunately need to entertain the idea of some clouds as moist cyclonic flow around an area of low pressure near Cape Breton sends a deck of stratus our way. These clouds are thickest across the mountains (upsloping) and parts of central Maine. Currently, southern Maine is looking at a mix of sun and clouds while New Hampshire is considerably sunnier (downsloping off the Whites).

As a disturbance pinwheels around that low into our area, expect cloud cover to expand this afternoon. Some brief showers can’t be ruled out either (best chance in the mountains and northeast of Portland). This disturbance will also mark the end of the best support for northwesterly flow. As a result, the gusty NW winds you see this morning should taper off by this afternoon/evening.

High temps today will be on the cooler side, ranging from around 40 in the mountains to just above 50 along the coastal plain.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

A cold front moved through the region last night, putting an end to our two-day run of gloriously average temperatures. We’re now ready to head back to a prolonged run of below-normal temps as a series of high pressure systems moves in from Siberia (yes really). The first high will approach this afternoon. At the leading edge of the colder air (a pseudo-cold front), some showers and storms will develop as remnant moisture (and warmth from today’s solar heating) gets washed out to sea. The best chance for a few rumbles will be north and east of Portland away from the immediate shoreline. It’s also important to note that not everyone will get a shower today, and any that do pop up will be brief. Later in the afternoon, NW winds will pick up and temps will begin to fall.

Highs will range from 50 in the mountains to 65 in southern NH. Skies will remain on the sunnier side along the coast while clouds stick around in the mountains due to upsloping.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Overcast skies are noted across the area this morning as a warm front moves through. Some light shower activity is also showing up on radar, and at least some of it is reaching the ground according to station observations up in the mountains. These clouds and showers are moving quickly east and clear skies currently over NY are headed our way. By mid-morning, expect sunny skies to develop across NH. Maine will join in the action by late morning/early afternoon.

Clear skies and light southwesterly breezes will support more warm temps today. Expect highs to range from 55 along the coast east of Portland to the low 60s in the mountains to the low/mid 70s for most of NH and western ME. We could even see a rogue shower or thunderstorm pop up this afternoon as a weak prefrontal trough develops. The best odds will be found in the mountains and in western/central NH. I certainly don’t expect widespread shower/storm activity this afternoon, but if a brief burst of rain happens to develop at your location, don’t be totally surprised.

Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts, a parade of remnant Arctic airmasses is lining up over Canada and ready to move into our area over the next couple weeks.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

After a few more dreary days last week, we’re finally poised to enjoy the best that Spring in Maine has to offer today. Our storm has departed, light westerly breezes don’t have much cold air to bring into the region, but they will help keep us clear/dry and will help hold the sea breeze at bay. With that in mind, expect clear skies across the area for the entire day (though a few cirrus might show up later in the afternoon/evening). The strong May sun will boost temps into the mid 50s in the mountains and right along the midcoast while everyone else enjoys low to mid 60s. Some parts of southern NH may even break into the upper 60s! Believe it or not, this is almost exactly what high temperatures “should” look like at this time of year. Get outside and enjoy the lovely weather today, clouds and possibly some showers will return tomorrow through Monday as another round of cold air arrives.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Our next storm has finally arrived this morning and rain is being observed over all of NH and a good portion of Maine as I write this around 5:45. If rain hasn’t yet reached your location, it will within the next hour or two. Once the rain arrives, it will keep going for much of the day. Rain will be steady but not torrential for most of the day, though some embedded convective cells may briefly increase rain rates from time to time. If you’re looking for consistently heavier rain, head to the SE-facing slopes of the Whites where upsloping will significantly enhance rainfall rates.

Drier air will start to approach from the south by this afternoon. Expect precip to taper off in southern NH around 4-5 PM while the NH/ME foothills and coastal plain will have to wait until 5-6 PM. Rain will continue in the mountains until 8-9 PM. Overall, most spots can expect to pick up around an inch or inch and a half of rain. Much higher totals (2-3″+ are likely along the SE-facing slopes of the Whites. Some rivers and streams, especially in that area, could be looking at minor flooding by this afternoon. No significant problems are expected.

High temps today will inch slightly closer to normal, ranging from 45 in the north to around 60 in far southern NH.

-Jack