Gray skies and rain continue across New Hampshire
Even though summer has officially begun, New Hampshire is still locked in a persistent pattern of gloomy weather, with weekend rains that have stretched across 13 consecutive weeks. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Gray, Maine, this trend isn’t just an unlucky streak—it’s a sign of a larger, sustained atmospheric pattern.
The coming weekend of Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15, looks to continue the trend. Showers are expected Saturday, with measurable rainfall developing late Sunday night. While neither day is expected to be a total washout, it’s clear that the region isn’t heading into dry season anytime soon.
Why the rain won’t stop
Meteorologist Sarah Jamison from the NWS explained that New Hampshire’s spring and early summer have been exceptionally wet due to a climate rebound from the drought experienced in Fall 2024. This May ranked among the top three wettest Mays ever recorded in southern New Hampshire, contributing to a feedback loop—the more it rains, the more moisture gets fed back into the system, increasing the odds of further precipitation.
“We’re not going to be getting into a dry spell anytime soon,” Jamison stated. Intermittent dry periods are likely, but the overall weather pattern remains active, meaning showers every few days could persist through much of the summer.
Air quality plummets due to Canadian wildfire smoke
In addition to the relentless rain, New Hampshire and Maine are currently experiencing hazy skies and unhealthy air due to smoke drifting down from Canadian wildfires. The skies are not just overcast—they’re gray and filtered, the result of fine particulate matter suspended in the air.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have issued air quality alerts, warning that the current levels of pollution pose a risk to sensitive groups. These include children, older adults, and individuals with asthma, bronchitis, or heart conditions.
Exposure symptoms can include coughing, eye irritation, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, irregular heartbeat. Both states recommend that outdoor physical activity be minimized, especially in areas where the smoke concentration is highest.
The current air quality alert is set to remain in effect through Monday morning, June 9, but may be extended depending on fire activity to the north.
Looking ahead: rain and smoke through June
Given current patterns, it’s becoming clear that New Hampshire’s early summer will continue to be shaped by two dominating forces: rainfall from a saturated atmospheric cycle, and smoke from uncontrollable fires in Canada. Until both systems shift, the region will likely endure continued interruptions to outdoor life, with limited sunshine, damp weekends, and air quality advisories lingering over much of June.
