Weekend Insights: Fire Spread Friday Ahead of Mountain Snowflakes and An Overdue Shower Chance

Our Insights video for the weekend – the deeper-dive into meteorology – takes us from a gusty wind that can spread brush fires quickly Friday into early Saturday, to a long overdue chance of showers moving in by Sunday night into Monday.  Matt shares our fire spread forecast to highlight areas most at risk and also takes a look to another chance of showers by later next week.

Gusty Friday and Elevated Fire Danger

Today’s strong winds bring elevated fire danger, especially across southern New England. The gusts, reaching over 30 mph by evening, start from the southwest and will shift northwest as a cold front passes. The strongest gusts should taper into Saturday morning, lowering fire spread concerns as the weekend progresses. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for some areas, so take precautions with any potential ignition sources.

Friday Night Mountain Snow Showers

Expect cooler air to settle in tonight as the cold front moves through, bringing some light mountain snow in northern New England. The higher terrain in northern Coos County, parts of Rangeley, and the Presidentials may see up to 2 inches of accumulation in high terrain, while lower elevations may just see a dusting. By Saturday morning, drier air takes hold, ending the snowfall and setting up a clear but cooler weekend.

Weekend Outlook: Crisp and Dry

Saturday:

• Temperature: 40s in northern New England, 50s in southern New England
• Conditions: Cool and breezy in the morning, with winds easing into the afternoon. Plenty of sunshine makes it an ideal day for outdoor plans, though dressing warmly is advised.

Saturday Night:

• Temperature: Widespread lows in the 20s
• Conditions: Mostly clear skies and diminishing winds will lead to a hard freeze overnight.

Sunday:

• Temperature: Mostly 50s across the region, with 40s in northern Maine
• Conditions: A pleasant day with increasing clouds by afternoon. No rain expected during daylight hours, so the day should stay dry.

Sunday Night Showers Into Monday

Late Sunday evening (around 9 or 10 PM), showers will begin to spread across the region. These showers continue into Monday morning but should taper off by midday, leaving behind minimal rain accumulation (about 0.1 to 0.3 inches). Once the showers clear, Monday afternoon temperatures may rise into the low 60s.

Next Week’s Outlook and Rain Chances

After Monday’s showers, a reinforcing cold front will bring cooler temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday, accompanied by a brief chance of Tuesday afternoon sprinkles or light showers. The next meaningful chance for rain appears Thursday, though the amount will likely remain limited unless Gulf moisture from Tropical Storm Rafael is drawn northward.

For the latest hourly updates, 14-day outlooks, and real-time conditions, download the Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside Weather App. Check out our forecast, live radar, and track the next round of showers. You can also browse our new 1DegreeOutside gear for cozy apparel as cooler days approach.