Marine Weather Net

Penobscot Bay Marine Forecast


TODAY

NW
WINDS
5 - 10
KNOTS

TONIGHT

W
WINDS
5 - 10
KNOTS

WED

S
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

WED NIGHT

SW
WINDS
10 - 15
KNOTS

The Marine Weather Forecast In Detail:
ANZ151 Forecast Issued: 325 AM EDT Tue Mar 19 2024

Today...Nw Winds 5 To 10 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt, Becoming W 10 To 15 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt Late. Seas 2 To 3 Ft.
Tonight...W Winds 5 To 10 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt, Becoming Sw After Midnight. Seas 2 To 3 Ft.
Wed...S Winds 10 To 15 Kt With Gusts Up To 25 Kt. Seas 2 To 3 Ft. Scattered Showers In The Afternoon With Vsby 1 To 3 Nm.
Wed Night...Sw Winds 10 To 15 Kt, Becoming W After Midnight. Gusts Up To 25 Kt. Seas 2 To 3 Ft. Rain Likely In The Evening, Then A Chance Of Rain And Snow After Midnight. Vsby 1 To 3 Nm.
Thu...W Winds 15 To 20 Kt, Increasing To 20 To 25 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 2 To 4 Ft. A Chance Of Snow Showers In The Morning. Vsby 1 Nm Or Less.
Thu Night...W Winds 20 To 25 Kt With Gusts Up To 35 Kt. Seas 2 To 4 Ft. Light Freezing Spray After Midnight.
Fri...Nw Winds 20 To 25 Kt, Becoming W 15 To 20 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 2 To 4 Ft. Light Freezing Spray In The Morning.
Fri Night...Nw Winds 10 To 15 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt, Becoming Ne After Midnight. Seas Around 2 Ft.
Sat...Se Winds 10 To 15 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt, Increasing To 15 To 20 Kt With Gusts Up To 30 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 2 To 3 Ft. Snow Likely. Rain Likely In The Afternoon. Vsby 1 Nm Or Less.
Sat Night...S Winds 15 To 20 Kt, Becoming Nw After Midnight. Gusts Up To 30 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. Rain Likely. Snow Likely, Mainly In The Evening. Vsby 1 Nm Or Less.
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Area Forecast Discussion
...UPDATED National Weather Service Gray ME
1106pm EDT Monday Mar 18 2024

Synopsis
Cyclonic flow this week promotes breezy west-northwest flow, temperatures trending cooler toward seasonal averages, and light snow and rain showers driven by instability. Showers will be mostly confined to the mountains, however, a quick-hitting clipper will likely bring more widespread showers all the way to the coast Wednesday into Thursday. Cool high pressure returns late in the week, with a low potential for another system this weekend.

Near Term - Until 6am Tuesday Morning
Update...Low level moisture continues to get squeezed into the higher terrain across the northern zones. Model forecasts are for Froude numbers to continue to decrease below thru midnight...and so snow showers will tend to focus more along and upstream of the mtns. Radar is already showing evidence of this...so I have adjusted Probability of Precipitation to reflect the highest values in the favored zones northwest of the ridges. Otherwise no major changes to the forecast.

Previous discussion...Visible satellite imagery this afternoon shows a plethora of diurnally driven and upslope clouds across the region with Northeast radar mosaic showing some weak returns, mainly over the mountains. Current temperatures range from the 30s across the north to the middle 40s in southern NH and southwestern ME. It will continue to be a partly cloudy afternoon with a few scattered flurries and sprinkles.

After some initial clearing this evening, clouds will be on the increase again overnight as a shortwave trough and associated cold front drop south over New England. Scattered snow showers will remain possible through the night but they will be mainly confined to the far north and mountains. Low temperatures will range from around 20 across the north to the lower 30s in southern NH and coastal southwestern ME. Locally colder readings will be possible wherever winds decouple and skies remain more clear.

.SHORT TERM /6am TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... The upper level pattern will become more zonal in nature on Tuesday as surface high pressure builds to our south and west. Similar to today, daytime heating will allow for the development of a cumulus field during the afternoon but moisture depth does not look very deep as afternoon mixing helps to dry out the lower and mid-levels. As a result, despite these clouds, any scattered flurries will be limited in scope and confined to the higher terrain... especially early in the day. Highs will range from the 30s across the north to the middle 40s south. It will remain a little breezy with west-northwest gusts up to around 25 mph, which will make it feel a little cooler.

Tuesday night will feature increasing clouds ahead of a weak system that will be approaching from the west. There will also be an increasing chance for scattered snow showers after midnight, especially over western NH. Lows will range from the upper teens to upper 20s from north to south.

Long Term - Wednesday Night Through Sunday
An Alberta Clipper will cross the region to start out the long term portion of the forecast. This will bring snow showers or a period of steady snow to northern portions of the forecast area Wednesday with temperature profiles supporting rain showers over southern sections. This system will likely lead to redevelopment along the Maine coastline Wednesday night. Cold air advection will develop on the back side of this system. This will change any leftover liquid precipitation back over to snow during the night. Some icy locations may develop with morning lows in the 20s in the north and near 30 degrees in the south by morning.

The low pressure system will continue to undergo intensification on Thursday as the surface low exits through the Canadian Maritimes. Winds will become aligned through an increasing layer in a full cold air advection mode. Bufkit profiles suggest wind gusts up to 40 kt will be possible during the day with higher gusts over the mountains and hilltops. It will be chilly with highs only in the 20s north to the 30s south.

It will also be very dry with low surface dew points during this period. Have forecast on the lower spectrum of guidance in terms of the dry air advecting over the region in addition to the influence of downslope drying.

Windy and cold conditions will continue Thursday night. Have increased probability of precipitation for the mountains where upslope snow showers will be continuing.

High pressure will build into New England from Canada on Friday with cold and dry air remaining over the region. This sets the stage with rain and snow possible over the weekend. Models continue to struggle with the timing and placement of an area of low pressure ejecting out of the southeastern United States. In any case, additional precipitation would be tacked on to our wettest start to the month of March in Portland.

Marine
Short Term
WNW wind gusts up to around 30 kts will remain possible through early this evening across the outer eastern waters with seas of 3-5 ft. Winds weaken some tonight through Tuesday with gusts generally between 15-20 kts, although a few gusts up to around 25 kts will remain possible. Across the bays, wind gusts up to around 20 kts can be expected with seas of 1-3 ft.

Long Term
Low pressure approaches the waters on Wednesday, with the low then strengthening in the Gulf of Maine late Wednesday night and Thursday. Westerly gales are possible behind this low Thursday afternoon and night as the low moves into the Canadian Maritimes. High pressure then builds across the waters late in the week behind the low. Low pressure develops south of the waters off the Carolina coast next weekend.

NOAA Gray/Portland ME Office - Watches - Warnings - Advisories
ME...None. NH...None.

Marine
None.