Hello everyone!

Today will feature cooler temps and unsettled weather as onshore flow develops north of a warm front over New York. Expect thick cloud cover and high temps ranging from the low 60s along the Midcoast to the low/mid 70s in the CT Valley. Some showers are moving through the region this morning and will stick around until midday before moving off to the east. Not much in the way of heavy rain is expected, but conditions will be generally damp regardless. Enjoy the reprieve from the heat and humidity!

Jack

Hello everyone!

A warm front stalled out south of our area will provide a focal point for more showers and thunderstorms today, mostly across southern parts of the area. Rain is ongoing south of a Portland – Plymouth NH line as of 7:30 and will continue in this area for the next few hours before getting dragged offshore by a weak area of low pressure. Most of the rain is light to moderate but a few embedded convective cells have produced some heavy rain over the past few hours especially closer to the MA border.

I’m not expecting any major flooding issues from this rain since totals should come out to around 1.5″ near the MA border and less farther north. That said, our soils have absorbed a whole lot of water in the past week or so which means that some of the usual low-lying spots might be quick to fill up and slow to drain out today. If you’re in York County ME or southern NH, I’d take a few minutes this morning to make sure the sump pump is still in good working order after Elsa.

For points farther north, a mostly cloudy day is in store for central ME and NH while a few breaks of sun will work into the mountains and foothills north of Augusta this afternoon. This will send temps into the mid to upper 70s for points north and east of Lewiston/Augusta while southern areas top out in the upper 60s to low 70s under thick cloud cover.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today is an unusual weather day here in western Maine and New Hampshire as we deal with the passage of Tropical Storm Elsa. As of 9 AM, Elsa is still located south of Long Island but is moving northeast quickly. Rain is already breaking out over the area with the steadiest and heaviest rain still a bit to our south.

Most of Elsa’s rain will fall in a period of torrential downpours between 11 AM and 4 PM as the core of the storm moves into the Gulf of Maine. During this time, 3-5″ of rain is likely to pile up along the coastal plain and foothills with some towns making a run at 6″+. This volume of rain in this short a time is very unusual for New England and poses a serious flash flood risk.

Flooding of small creeks and streams along with low-lying areas is expected, and some places that don’t usually see high water during heavy rain events are likely to experience some inundation today. If your basement is a frequent flooder (or even an intermittent flooder) or if you live near a small creek prone to overflow, now is the time to wrap up your preparations for high water. Fairly serious damage to roads near stream crossings is possible so try to limit travel this afternoon if at all possible. Remember to never drive through floodwaters, especially in flash flooding situations like this, as there is no way of knowing whether the underlying road remains intact or not.

Elsa and its associated downpours will exit rapidly to the northeast this evening with some partial clearing possible in western areas by sunset. Aside from the rain, Elsa’s passage will substantially increase the humidity with dew points making a run into the upper 60s/low 70s. Some gusty northeast winds are possible but with the storm’s center tracking to our east through the Gulf of Maine, the strongest winds will remain over water and no widespread wind issues are expected.

High temps today will sit within a few degrees of 70 thanks to northeast winds and thick cloud cover.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

A rare run-in with a tropical storm is in the forecast for tomorrow as Elsa moves rapidly up the East Coast. Having been deprived of its fuel source (warm water) over 24 hours ago, Elsa is not going to deal the region a devastating blow like a real hurricane would. However, it’s moving fast enough to not completely fall apart by the time it gets up here so we will deal with some substantial impacts.

Elsa’s biggest impact by far will be in the form of heavy rain beginning today. Moisture will be siphoned off the system by an approaching cold front today so while Elsa’s primary rain shield remains well to our south, it’ll still be a wet day across much of the area. This is especially true in the north and mountains where proximity to the front will favor steadier rains this afternoon. Farther south, rain will come in the form of pop-up showers and thunderstorms so will be a bit more hit-or-miss, though a few towns could pick up an inch of rain in short order given the moisture-laden airmass.

Thick clouds and showers will hold temps in the low to mid 70s for most today with plenty of humidity for those who for some reason wish it were warmer.

Elsa blows through the region tomorrow with torrential rain possible along the coastal plain and foothills. Most guidance indicates 3-5″ of rain is a good bet for much of the I-95 corridor extending west to the southeast-facing slopes of the mountains. Much of that rain will fall during a rather brief window between 9 AM and 3 PM which means that flash flooding is likely. If your basement takes on water easily or if you live in a low-lying area prone to flooding, now is the time to take appropriate precautions for high water. Move sensitive stuff to higher ground, dust off the sump pump and make sure it’s in good working order, etc.

Most of the area won’t have to worry much about Elsa’s wind, though some exposed spots on the Midcoast could make a run towards 40-50 mph gusts.

Elsa will be a distant memory by sunset tomorrow as the system races northeast into Canada.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

After a few showers and storms grazed southern parts of the area yesterday, we’re in for a similar setup today as a slow-moving cold front slides in our direction from the northwest. This front will introduce some clouds especially in the mountains especially later in the day which will hold high temps in the mid 70s north of Route 2. South of the front, partly to mostly sunny skies this morning and a generally warmer airmass will favor much warmer temps with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Showers and storms will pop up this afternoon especially in southern parts of the area with gusty winds being the primary threat alongside heavy rain and lightning.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Unfortunately, warm and humid weather is back for today after a beautiful Fourth of July weekend in the 60s. As the warm air moves in this morning, we’re seeing thick low clouds/fog over the Midcoast and some showers scattered across the region. Expect a few breaks in the clouds by midday as the warm front lifts north, allowing for high temps to warm into the upper 80s to low 90s across much of the area. With thick fog and onshore flow, the Midcoast will stay cooler in the 60s to perhaps low 70s.

A cold front will push through the region this afternoon bringing the threat for some showers and thunderstorms especially in southern NH. At the moment, widespread severe weather is not expected but some storms may be able to produce some gusty winds in addition to heavy rain and lightning.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today will feature continued cool and unsettled weather as an upper-level low traverses the area. Expect mostly cloudy skies throughout the day with scattered drizzle and showers this morning becoming more widespread this afternoon/evening especially in southern areas. A steady northeasterly breeze will team up with the thick cloud cover to hold high temps to the upper 50s for most with a few low 60s possible in Maine where showers won’t move in for another few hours.

A similar theme will continue for the Fourth as we continue to celebrate our independence from the tyranny of heat and humidity. Winds tomorrow will shift around to the northwest which will open the door for some warming along the coast, into the mid/upper 60s, while the mountains remain a bit chillier. Clouds will start to break up tomorrow especially along the coast while another round of showers is possible in western NH and adjacent parts of the Maine mountains.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today will feature cool temps and unsettled weather as a couple areas of low pressure slide offshore to our south. Expect overcast skies to be the rule today with just a couple sunny breaks possible in the north this afternoon. Rain is steadiest this morning with more showery weather taking over this afternoon, especially in the south. Thick cloud cover and northeasterly breezes will hold temps to within a few degrees of 60 area-wide.

-Jack

Hello everyone!

Today will feature cooler temps and a bit more in the way of cloud cover as yesterday’s front lingers offshore and we await the development of a new wave of low pressure along it this afternoon. Skies this morning are characterized by a mix of sun and clouds with a bit more of the latter than the former. That should be the general rule today with breaks of sun briefly poking through the overcast. Folks in the north and mountains stand the best chance of those sunny breaks being a bit longer especially midday.

This afternoon, a coastal storm begins to get going to our southwest and will shut down any remaining sunny breaks. Scattered showers may break out in southern areas this afternoon, but steady rain should hold off until after sunset. Temps will fall from highs in the mid 70s north/low 80s south into the 60s as the storm draws colder air in from the northeast.

A very beneficial and much-needed soaking rain is expected tonight with several inches possible along the coast to take the edge off our (re)developing drought.

-Jack