Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Hampton Beach, NH

NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/
6am Update...Obs are starting to pick up NW winds early this morning, and these should be gusting up to 25 mph by mid morning across the area. A few light radar returns across southern ME this morning, but this may only be a few flurries as there remains plenty of dry air near the surface.

Previous Discussion...
Cooler and breezy today with mountain snow continuing into the afternoon.

Low level moisture will continue to stream in behind upper trough today as general cyclonic flow translates eastward. Flow is initially unblocked early this morning, but will trend towards blocked flow. This locks in a mostly cloudy day for points NW of the mountains, and mostly sunny day downstream into the interior and coast.

Under those clouds in the north, flakes will continue to fall through the morning and afternoon. This will range in intensity and coverage locally, with a couple more inches of light, fluffy snow expected for northern NH through today. Low level moisture does thin by this evening with equally decreasing lift.

Elsewhere, it will be another breezy day as the overall pressure gradient slowly slackens into the late afternoon. The brisk NW flow will bring highs a couple degrees lower than Tuesday, with mid 20s along the coast and interior, teens in the mountains.
Combined with the wind, wind chills start in the single digits this morning, climbing into the teens later.

SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/
Departing cyclonic flow will bring lighter winds tonight, but it may not be until towards midnight that these winds finally decouple. This makes tonight's low temps a tricky forecast, as otherwise good radiational cooling conditions could result for the coast and interior. Did opt to go lower than guidance here, with many locations falling into the single digits by Thurs AM.

Brief surface ridging will pass over New England Thursday morning with calmer winds than mid week. Flow does turn SW as this ridge exits, and this will begin to bring in more mild temps for end of the week. Daytime temps will be about the same as Wed, but without a breeze it should feel a couple degrees warmer at least.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/
Evening Update...01z NBM blended in with the going latest forecast yields little change. Still looking at a cold frontal passage later Sat/Sun with some potential for a coastal low to brush our region with snow sunday night into Monday.

Previously...

A weak ridge of high pressure will cross New England at the start of the extended portion of the forecast. Dry conditions can be expected Friday to end out the work week.

A gradual warm up will arrive Friday into Saturday as high pressure crests over the region before exiting off the coast.
12Z operational models and ensemble solutions suggest light precipitation will reach the region ahead of a strong Arctic front. This poleward advecting moisture on southerly winds will lead to scattered snow showers over the weekend and above normal temperatures.

Readings do begin to plummet behind the Arctic front during the day Sunday however. There will continue to remain timing differences in this feature as a surface low rides along it off the Northeastern coastline. In any case, strong gusty winds will follow with cold air advection and perhaps a period of snow.
A prolonged period of Arctic cold can be expected next week.

AVIATION /11Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/
Short Term...Upslope clouds/-SN will continue to result in periods of MVFR restrictions at KHIE today with otherwise VFR conditions through tonight. Winds will remain out of the northwest with gusts up to 25 kts at times today, becoming light tonight. No LLWS is anticipated.

Long Term...Overall aviation impacts will be limited through Saturday. Diminishing winds becoming westerly on Friday before a brief period of SW on Saturday. A sharp front will allow for Arctic air to reenter the region beginning Sunday.

MARINE
Short Term...Northwesterly winds increase across the waters today to include the bays and harbors. Some light snow showers will be possible on the outer coastal waters tonight and Thursday. Slackening pressure gradient will result in these winds decreasing later this evening. Surface ridging pushing into New England heading into late week.

Long Term...A general west to southwesterly gradient will continue over the region for the long range portion of the forecast. Winds increase ahead of an Arctic front Saturday, mostly likely into SCA criteria.

GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until midnight EST tonight for ANZ150>154.