Gray, Maine – Sunshine and lighter winds will make for a pleasant day across Maine and New Hampshire, but hazy skies may linger as wildfire smoke passes high overhead. While the smoke is expected to remain well above the ground, the quiet weather won’t last long as the next round of showers and thunderstorms approaches by late Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Gray, smoke moving across the Northeast today is forecast to remain elevated in the atmosphere rather than settling near the surface. Forecast guidance indicates the thickest concentrations will stay aloft through Monday evening and into the overnight hours, limiting impacts to air quality at ground level across most of the region.
Residents from Portland and Augusta to Concord and the White Mountains may notice a milky or hazy appearance to the sky despite otherwise comfortable weather. Forecasters noted that any near-surface smoke shown in portions of central New Hampshire is the result of model artifacts and should not be interpreted as expected conditions.
The next significant weather change arrives late Tuesday afternoon, when showers and thunderstorms begin developing across the region. Rain chances continue through Wednesday, bringing periods of wet weather that could affect the evening commute, outdoor recreation and construction projects.
Monday remains the best opportunity for outdoor activities before conditions become more unsettled. Keep an eye on updated forecasts as the timing and coverage of Tuesday’s showers and thunderstorms become clearer, and additional advisories could be issued if stronger storms develop.
