Maine — A band of steady rain and gusty east winds is pushing through southern Maine and New Hampshire early this Halloween morning, coating streets in a sheen of water and scattering the last of the season’s fallen leaves. The National Weather Service in Gray warns that gusts up to 45 mph could bring down small branches and cause isolated power flickers before the system clears later today.
Commuters should expect slick roads through midday, especially along the I-95 and Route 101 corridors. The strongest winds will ease by afternoon, but lingering drizzle and clouds could still dampen early trick-or-treat plans, mainly east of Portland and Manchester. Temperatures will hover in the upper 50s to near 60, keeping the air mild but unsettled.
By Saturday, the storm system slides east into the Maritimes, allowing sunshine to return across both states. A crisp northwest breeze will follow, dropping afternoon highs into the low 50s and driving evening readings toward the lower 30s. Gardeners and campers should prepare for the first widespread frost potential across interior valleys and foothill towns by Sunday morning.
Sunday itself looks bright, calm, and seasonably cool — a perfect chance for cleanup, leaf burning, or a short hike before the clocks “fall back.” Early next week brings another shift: clouds return Monday with a stronger cold front and rain showers likely by Monday night, possibly marking the first hint of a rain-snow mix in the higher terrain of western Maine and northern New Hampshire.
The Halloween rain is temporary, but it marks a clear seasonal turn. After this storm, November arrives brisk, bright, and ready for winter’s first whispers.
