509 FXUS61 KGYX 310542 AFDGYX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gray ME 1242 AM EST Wed Dec 31 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Breezy conditions continue today but it will be less gusty and temperatures will be warmer. A clipper system affects the region tonight with light snow that will last into Thursday morning. Mainly dry and cold weather expected through the weekend into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... Variably cloudy and less windy conditions are expected today. SFC winds go southwest which should allow for temperatures to warm some, with highs in the mid to upper 20s at lower elevations but still in the teens and lower 20s in our mountain zones. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A strong and amplifying short wave trough diving toward our area from the Great Lakes this evening will aid in inducing cyclogenesis over southern New England which when then move northeastward Thu. This process will spread mainly light snow across our forecast area tonight, first across western zones this evening, then to the coastal plain around or after midnight as a coastal front develops. Moisture availability will this system is quite limited and this will keep snowfall amounts on the light side, generally 1 to 3 inches. However we will have to watch for some enhancement on the coast, especially the Midcoast as the cyclone undergoes intensification and the coastal front strengthens. Some guidance sources show the potential for a NORLUN-like feature affecting the midcoast before moving off to the northeast. If this would to occur then it's possible that advisory level snowfall amounts could be reached. Will continue to monitor that possibility. Light snows continue, mainly in ME, through much of Thursday morning before moving out to the east. Winds pick up during the afternoon hours as the strengthening cyclone moves away. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Quiet weather settles in for Friday and the weekend. It will be cool, with temperatures running below normal and daily NW breeze that keeps wind chill values between -10 and 10. The next chance for widespread precip could arrive early to mid-week next week in the form of a robust clipper, but there remains a lot of solutions in guidance. This is mainly in placement of moisture between high pressure in the central CONUS and north flow across southern Canada. Very little change to the forecast based on the new NBM. && .AVIATION /02Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Short Term...Visibility and sky conditions remain VFR through today. The next chance for flight restrictions comes tonight as widespread light snow will likely bring about MVFR or lower visibilities and cigs down to 500-1000 ft on the coastal plain late tonight. Improvement is foreseen as Thursday morning progresses. Long Term...VFR is expected by sunset for most terminals Thu, with some light SN continuing for HIE and US/CAN border terminals. Gusty NW winds Thursday afternoon 20 to 25 kts, some to 30 kt. High pressure brings mostly VFR conditions for the weekend, but MVFR ceilings may be intermittent for HIE. && .MARINE... Short Term...Westerly Gale force wind gusts continue this morning on the outer waters before beginning to become less frequent. Afterward southwesterly wind gusts greater than 25 kts last through the afternoon before weakening tonight. SCAs are likely going to have to remain up through at least the first part of Wednesday night as wave heights take a little bit longer to fall below 5ft. Light freezing spray will also continue into this morning, with more moderate freezing spray likely in the slightly colder waters of Penobscot Bay. SCA likely needed Thursday as winds remain due to strengthening low pres in the Gulf of Maine. Some Gale force winds will be possible in the northern coastal zones in proximity to the low. Wave heights may not get more than 4 ft as direction remains offshore for much of the 2nd half of event. Long Term...Cold air advection may keep SCA continuing through Friday and Saturday outside of the bays/harbors. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...Gale Warning until 11 AM EST Wednesday for ANZ150-152-154. Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EST Wednesday for ANZ151-153. Freezing Spray Advisory until 7 AM EST Wednesday for ANZ151. && $$ NEAR TERM...Ekster SHORT TERM...Ekster LONG TERM...Cornwell/Ekster