Manchester, N.H. – Soft clouds drifted across the pre-dawn sky Thursday, wrapping southern New Hampshire in a cool, damp quiet that won’t last long. Warmer air is pushing in for one final mild day, but by Friday evening, a quick-moving system will bring a few showers — and a noticeable chill behind it — setting up a classic late-October weekend across the Granite State.
According to the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, sunshine will dominate Thursday with highs near 60°F before a southwest breeze picks up. That warmth fades quickly Friday evening as winds turn northwest and drier, colder air filters in. Highs Friday may touch the upper 50s, but most areas will slide into the 30s by late evening. A few scattered showers could briefly dampen travel along I-93 and Route 3, especially north of Concord, before clearing skies return overnight.
The real story comes with the air behind that weak front — clear, crisp, and hinting at the season’s first frost potential. Lows early Saturday will drop into the mid-30s around Manchester and closer to freezing in rural pockets from Hillsborough to Merrimack County. Gardeners should protect sensitive plants and bring in porch decorations as frost may develop on exposed surfaces.
Saturday and Sunday look bright but brisk, with highs in the low to mid-50s under mostly sunny skies. It’s ideal fall cleanup weather — dry leaves, calm winds, and that unmistakable bite of November just ahead. Across the northern tier of the country, from Wisconsin to Maine, this same pattern is the signal everyone’s watching: the atmosphere is edging closer to its first snow setup of the season.
Five-Day Forecast for Manchester, NH:
Thu: 60/38 – Sunny, light breeze; mild fall day.
Fri: 58/36 – Partly sunny; scattered evening showers, cooler air follows.
Sat: 55/34 – Mostly sunny; frost risk early north of city.
Sun: 52/32 – Clear, crisp; bright and calm.
Mon: 52/35 – Partly cloudy; steady chill continues into midweek.
