Beach Hazards Statement 1, NWS Gray, ME

712 
WHUS41 KGYX 152039
CFWGYX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gray ME
439 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

MEZ023>028-NHZ014-160730-
/O.CON.KGYX.BH.S.0001.260516T1200Z-260517T0000Z/
Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-
Coastal Waldo-Coastal Rockingham-
439 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY
MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Warm temperatures in the 70s may cause people to
  underestimate the dangers of cold water temperatures which are 
  currently in the mid to upper 40s.

* WHERE...In Maine, Coastal York, Coastal Cumberland, Sagadahoc, 
  Lincoln, Knox and Coastal Waldo Counties. In New Hampshire, 
  Coastal Rockingham County.

* WHEN...From Saturday morning through Saturday evening. Warm to
  hot air temperatures will continue through at least Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...The cold water temperatures can quickly cause
  hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. According to the US
  Coast Guard, when the water temperatures are below 50 degrees,
  the chance of immediate incapacitation due to cold shock is
  extremely high. Anyone on boats or paddlecraft should use 
  extreme caution to avoid this threat.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued on days when a significant
number of boats and paddlecraft are expected to be out on the
water and when warm air temperatures may cause people to
underestimate the danger of the cold water. Paddle smart from the
start. Always wear your life jacket. Be aware of wind conditions,
tides, and localized currents. 

All boaters and paddlers are highly encouraged to contact the
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons at
www.wow.uscgaux/i_want_a_usc/index.php to receive a FREE vessel
check. This is a convenient, no consequence way to ensure your
vessel is outfitted with all required safety equipment. 
Additionally, please label your paddlecraft with your contact
information (IF FOUND Sticker) in the event it is found adrift on
the water.

&&

$$

Legro

929 
WHUS41 KGYX 160619
CFWGYX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gray ME
219 AM EDT Sat May 16 2026

MEZ023>028-NHZ014-170000-
/O.CON.KGYX.BH.S.0001.260516T1200Z-260517T0000Z/
Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-
Coastal Waldo-Coastal Rockingham-
219 AM EDT Sat May 16 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Warm temperatures in the 70s may cause people to
  underestimate the dangers of cold water temperatures which are 
  currently in the mid to upper 40s.

* WHERE...In Maine, Coastal York, Coastal Cumberland, Sagadahoc, 
  Lincoln, Knox and Coastal Waldo Counties. In New Hampshire, 
  Coastal Rockingham County.

* WHEN...From this morning through this evening. Warm to hot air 
  temperatures will continue through at least Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...The cold water temperatures can quickly cause
  hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. According to the US
  Coast Guard, when the water temperatures are below 50 degrees,
  the chance of immediate incapacitation due to cold shock is
  extremely high. Anyone on boats or paddlecraft should use 
  extreme caution to avoid this threat.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued on days when a significant
number of boats and paddlecraft are expected to be out on the
water and when warm air temperatures may cause people to
underestimate the danger of the cold water. Paddle smart from the
start. Always wear your life jacket. Be aware of wind conditions,
tides, and localized currents. 

All boaters and paddlers are highly encouraged to contact the
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons at
www.wow.uscgaux/i_want_a_usc/index.php to receive a FREE vessel
check. This is a convenient, no consequence way to ensure your
vessel is outfitted with all required safety equipment. 
Additionally, please label your paddlecraft with your contact
information (IF FOUND Sticker) in the event it is found adrift on
the water.

&&

$$

JC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
222 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No major changes to the forecast, but I have issued headlines
for cold water hazards given the warm and fair weather expected
this weekend.

Guidance has increased high temperatures on
Tuesday and Wednesday, with lower 90s potentially more widespread
across southern NH than previously expected. This may allow for a
slight increase in CAPE as well, increasing the chances of see
thunderstorms across the interior Tuesday afternoon.
&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Rain comes to an end this evening and then the pattern turns
warmer for the weekend. After a long below normal stretch of
weather, outdoor recreation will be in high demand and area
inland and ocean waters remain very cold.

2. Warmer than normal temperatures arrive beginning this weekend,
and may be much above normal parts of next week. Warmer temperatures
on Tuesday and Wednesday will allow for some scattered thunderstorms
in the evenings of both days.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...

Rain and showers continue to gradually diminish in intensity
and coverage. I expect that even cloud cover will largely
scatter out overnight. That will lead to patchy radiation fog
developing. For now confidence is the highest in the major river
valleys, so that is where I have included it for now. Any fog
will lift quickly with sunrise Sat morning. Also worth noting
that the astronomical high tide tonight is forecast to be around
11.2 ft at Portland. Little to no surge is expected, but water
levels will be elevated overnight.

Then attention will turn to warming temps. Widespread 70s are
expected both Sat and Sun. This will be the first well above
normal stretch in a while, and the expectation is that lots of
people will be anxious to get out and enjoy that weather. The
concern is that inland and ocean waters remain very cold. For
the ocean waters I have issued a Beach Hazard Statement to
highlight those waters temps in the 40s still. Inland, rivers
and lakes are cold, plus recent rainfall has the rivers running
swift. So I have gone ahead and issued a Special Weather
Statement for inland cold waters. There is some threat for
showers and thunderstorms late Sat, but generally expecting
those to be weakening as they arrive in western portions of the
forecast area.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...

Early next week, high pressure will start to build over New England,
allowing for a gradual heating trend into Monday. A sea breeze is
likely on Monday, as the high moves eastward allowing for southerly
onshore flow to persist in the afternoon. The sea breeze should keep
coastal areas and parts of central Maine in the lower 70s on Monday,
with upper 70s and 80s mainly confined to areas west of I-93.

Monday night, winds calm and shift to southwesterlies. This will
allow for warm air and moisture advection, with temperatures and
dewpoints running at least 10F warmer on Tuesday. High temperatures
in the lower 90s can not be ruled out over southern New Hampshire,
with below 80F high temperatures staying confined to the Midcoast.
The daytime heating and extra moisture looks to collide with a cold
front moving southward Tuesday afternoon. Soundings are already
showing an unstable environment across northern New England with 600-
1200J of CAPE and around 30-35kts of wind shear. Within this
environment, storms may contain at least small hail and gusty winds.

Another hot day is forecast on Wednesday as well, with high
temperatures maybe only a couple degrees cooler from Tuesday.
Another cold front looks to move southeastward Wednesday afternoon,
arriving into another unstable environment Wednesday evening, with
at least 1000J of CAPE and 35kts of shear. So between Tuesday and
Wednesday night, it seems likely that Wednesday night's storms could
pose more of a severe threat than Tuesdays, but both days have the
potential to see minor convective impacts across the interior. With
both days, a small marine layer along the coast is likely to keep
stronger storms confined to the interior. Temperatures start cooling
off further for the end of next week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Rain is gradually coming to an end and coastal storm is pulling
away so gradual improvement to VFR conditions is expected this
evening. The question then becomes the degree of clearing and
whether radiation fog develops. At the very least I anticipate
that the major river valleys will see some fog, so I have
included mention in the TAFs at LEB and HIE. Elsewhere the
confidence was too low to include at this time. Widespread VFR
conditions are expected Sat.

Outlook:

Saturday Night: VFR conditions expected.

Sunday: VFR conditions expected.

Sunday Night: VFR conditions expected.

Monday/Monday night: VFR conditions expected.

Tuesday/Tuesday night: MVFR due to thunderstorms.

Wednesday: MVFR due to thunderstorms.

&&

.MARINE...
Still dealing with large seas between 5 and 7 feet generally
across the coastal waters. These will slowly diminish thru the
weekend. I have extended the SCA for the coastal waters thru Sat
night. The main concern will be warming air temps and very cold
ocean temps. Increasing recreation will make the cold water a
hazard. Mostly light and variable winds are forecast over the
waters next week with seas of 2-4ft expected.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...Beach Hazards Statement from Saturday morning through Saturday
     evening for MEZ023>028.
NH...Beach Hazards Statement from Saturday morning through Saturday
     evening for NHZ014.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Sunday for ANZ150-152-154.

&&

DISCUSSION...Legro/Palmer
AVIATION...Legro/Palmer
MARINE...Legro/Palmer

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Gray ME
121 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0121 PM     Rain             1 W Biddeford           43.49N 70.48W
05/15/2026  M2.91 Inch       York               ME   Trained Spotter

            Storm total.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Gray ME
142 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0142 PM     Rain             4 SSE Gorham            43.63N 70.43W
05/15/2026  M3.37 Inch       Cumberland         ME   Trained Spotter

            48 hour storm total.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Gray ME
143 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1255 PM     Rain             1 NE Lovell             44.14N 70.88W
05/15/2026  M2.00 Inch       Oxford             ME   Trained Spotter

            Storm total.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Gray ME
145 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0145 PM     Rain             5 N Bristol             43.66N 71.72W
05/15/2026  M2.77 Inch       Grafton            NH   Trained Spotter

            Storm total.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Gray ME
215 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0206 PM     Rain             2 NE Freedom            43.84N 71.02W
05/15/2026  M3.20 Inch       Carroll            NH   Trained Spotter

            Storm total.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Gray ME
222 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-033-NHZ001>015-160030-
Northern Oxford-Northern Franklin-Central Somerset-Southern Oxford-
Southern Franklin-Southern Somerset-Interior York-
Central Interior Cumberland-Androscoggin-Kennebec-Interior Waldo-
Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Sagadahoc-Lincoln-Knox-Coastal
Waldo-
Interior Cumberland Highlands-Northern Coos-Southern Coos-
Northern Grafton-Northern Carroll-Southern Grafton-Southern Carroll-
Sullivan-Merrimack-Belknap-Strafford-Cheshire-Eastern Hillsborough-
Interior Rockingham-Coastal Rockingham-
Western And Central Hillsborough-
Including the cities of Upton, Wilsons Mills, Andover, Byron,
Middle Dam, Roxbury, South Arm, Coburn Gore, Davis, Oquossoc,
Rangeley, Avon, Kingfield, Phillips, New Portland, Brassua,
Long Pond, Moosehead, Pittston Farm, Seboomook, Bingham, Jackman,
Bethel, Bryant Pond, Hanover, Locke Mills, Milton, Newry, Rumford,
Norway, Fryeburg, Oxford, Farmington, New Sharon, New Vineyard,
Temple, Wilton, Chesterville, Jay, Athens, Cornville, Skowhegan,
Palmyra, Pittsfield, Embden, Madison, Hollis, Alfred, Lebanon,
Sanford, Goodwins Mills, Buxton, Limington, Berwick, New Gloucester,
Gray, North Windham, Gorham, Greene, Lewiston, Sabattus, Wales,
Minot, Turner, Auburn, Livermore Falls, Augusta, Sidney, Windsor,
Vassalboro, Waterville, China, Palermo, Brooks, Jackson, Knox,
Liberty, Montville, Morrill, Waldo, Winterport, Unity, Biddeford,
Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Kittery, Portland, Cape Elizabeth,
South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth, Brunswick, Arrowsic, Bath,
Phippsburg, Bowdoinham, Topsham, Bowdoin, Whitefield, Jefferson,
Dresden, Alna, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle,
Boothbay Harbor, Wiscasset, Waldoboro, Owls Head, Rockland,
Appleton, Camden, Hope, Rockport, Thomaston, Belfast, Northport,
Searsmont, Lincolnville, Bridgton, Harrison, Naples, Errol,
Millsfield, Colebrook, Berlin, Dummer, Milan, York Pond, Lancaster,
Bethlehem, Lincoln, Littleton, Sugar Hill, Thornton,
Waterville Valley, Woodstock, North Conway, Albany, Conway, Chatham,
Crawford Notch, Lyme, Ashland, Ellsworth, Holderness, Plymouth,
Rumney, Wakefield, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Ossipee, Tuftonboro,
Wolfeboro, Moultonborough, Claremont, Cornish, Croydon, Goshen,
Grantham, Lempster, Newport, Charlestown, Boscawen, Canterbury,
Concord, Dunbarton, Loudon, Hooksett, Laconia, Gilford, Meredith,
Barrington, Rochester, Dover, Rollinsford, Somersworth, Durham,
Madbury, Gilsum, Keene, Marlow, Sullivan, Surry, Jaffrey,
Manchester, Pelham, Nashua, Salem, Atkinson, Newton, Plaistow,
Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Exeter, Greenland, Portsmouth, Rye,
Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, Amherst, Milford,
Mont Vernon, Goffstown, Peterborough, Sharon, and Weare
222 PM EDT Fri May 15 2026

...National Weather Service Cold Water Safety Message...

* The warm air temperatures this weekend in the lower 70s may cause
  people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures
  which are currently only in the upper 30s and lower 40s across
  Sebago Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee, and in the region's smaller
  lakes and rivers.

* The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to
  anyone immersed in the water. According to the US Coast Guard,
  when the water temperatures are below 50 degrees, the chance of
  immediate incapacitation due to cold shock is extremely high.
  Anyone on small boats, canoes, or kayaks should plan accordingly
  if recreating this weekend and use extreme caution to avoid this
  threat. Paddle smart from the start and always wear your life
  jacket!

* Breezy winds are also expected this weekend with gusts up to 25 mph
  from the southwest. If boating on large bodies of water, these
  winds can increase the likelihood of overturning your boat, canoe,
  or kayak due to increased wave heights.

* Due to rain, area rivers continue to run fast with swift water
  currents. The swift water can easily overturn a kayak or canoe into
  the frigid river waters. Once in the cold water, the strong
  currents will make it difficult to reach safety.

Legro