Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Saco, ME

NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/
1030 PM Update...Little change to the going forecast other than to lower temperatures at the better radiators in northern NH where the cirrus is not overly thick.

645 PM Update...Little change to the going forecast as a far weather evening continues to be expected. An increase in fog can be expected late.

Previously...

Onshore winds along the coast can be expected until this evening with Cu fields gradually dissipating towards sunset across much of the interior. The HRRR solution continues to bring low clouds and fog back to the region tonight with much of the region experiencing a mile or less visibility by late tonight. This will be very similar to last night's conditions.

It will be a chilly night with lows primarily in the 40s. The coolest readings will be in the northern mountains where overnight lows may reach the upper 30s in places with patchy frost.

SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/
Low cloudiness and patchy fog will once again open the day on Friday with plenty of low level moisture. However, a south to southwest gradient will once again allow the moisture to mix out with time. The latest areas to lose the cloud deck and fog will once again be the coastline.

Above normal temperatures for this time of the year will once again be situated across northern New England with a ridge of high pressure settling to our south. Afternoon highs will once again reach the 60s in the north to the lower 70s across the south. Temperatures along with coast will be cooler due to onshore winds with readings in the 60s.

After a brief bout of sunshine, the onshore flow will be sufficient to potentially bring the low stratus deck back in during the afternoon hours off the Gulf of Maine as a trough approaches from the west.

This trough will allow for a low cloud cover in all areas Friday night. An inverted trough will slowly cross the region allowing for the chances of precipitation to increase during the night.

Overnight lows will drop into the mid 40s to lower 50s. There will be patchy fog forming as well once again.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/
Overview: A cold front and associated low pressure will be exiting the region come Saturday morning. Brief high pressure moves overhead for the remainder of the weekend, with the next period of unsettled weather arriving Sunday night into Monday.
Temperatures will be cooler this weekend and next week, with forecasts leaning towards cooler than normal temperatures.

Details: Upper and mid level trough axis will be just about mid way through the CWA Saturday morning with ongoing showers progressing into central Maine. There remains some uncertainty with coverage of these showers as short to med guidance times the main forcing differently. That said, there is higher confidence in conditions improving through the remainder of the morning and afternoon. Light winds become breezy northwesterlies, with some of these winds continuing towards the Kennebec Valley even after sundown.

Riding cold air advection overnight will be drier air through the column. This should lead to mostly clear skies for NH and western ME. Some lower moisture may remain towards central ME with clouds, mainly due to the downstream low pressure forming a comma head towards New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These clear skies and lighter winds to the west will aid in overnight temperatures cooling down to the upper 30s to low 40s. Some lower 30s figures can't be ruled out across northern NH and the mountains of western ME.

Ridging crests over New England Sunday, with cooler temperatures in the 60s. This will be ahead of broad stacked low pressure nearing James Bay. The occluded system will swing a cold front towards the CWA, with a triple point low pres system increasing rain chances Sunday night into Monday. The passage of this system will reinforce the cooler air brought in by the early weekend system, resulting in temperatures leaning below normal for next week. The chance for our first widespread frost of the season may be lurking towards mid-week next week as overnight temperatures fall into the mid to upper 30s for a good portion of the interior. One thing is for certain, wintry conditions will be prevalent at the higher summits of the Whites this weekend heading into next week. Those set to traverse these locations should have a plan for wind chills well below freezing and at least slick surfaces due to icing.

AVIATION /03Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/
Short Term...VFR conditions this evening will be placed by patchy to areas of fog during the overnight period. IFR and LIFR conditions can be expected in most areas by later tonight with the exception perhaps at HIE. Ceilings and visibilities gradually lift Friday before lowering once again Friday night.

Long Term...MVFR ceilings across western ME Saturday morning will improve during the day as SHRA taper. Breezy NW winds up to 25 kt possible through the afternoon. VFR should be the case into Sat night, with some valley fog developing overnight.
Ceiling restrictions lower once again Sunday ahead of additional SHRA overnight into Monday.

MARINE
Short Term...Winds will remain out of the south during the short term portion of the forecast. Both winds and seas will remain below SCA thresholds. Patchy fog may limit visibility at times.

Long Term...Below SCA conditions this weekend as cold front passes over the waters Saturday. Cooler, breezy NW winds remain Saturday. Another system cross the area Sunday night into Monday. This will bring the chance for SCA conditions as wave heights build 5 to 7 ft through Monday into Tuesday.

GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
ME...None.
NH...None.
MARINE...None.