LARGE WINTER STORM APPROACHING OUR AREA…FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE COAST…WINTER STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR NORTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTY…HIGH WIND WARNING ISSUED FOR THE SOUTHEAST COAST…
At 7:00 PM temperatures across the state ranged from the low 20’s in northern CT to near 30 F along the coast. Reginal radar shows snow aloft moving into southwestern Connecticut. This snow will start making it down to ground level in the next 60 minutes in Fairfield county. Winds are currently light from the Northeast at 5 – 10 PM. Here’s the latest forecast:
This Evening: Snow spreading into the state from southwest to northeast between now and 11:00 PM. Temperatures holding in the low to mid 20’s in northern CT and near 30 F along the coast. Easterly winds gradually increasing to 30 – 35 MPH along the coast by midnight. The falling snow which is expected to become moderate by midnight is expected to stick immediately to most roads. A minor impact on evening driving is expected with a dusting to 1” of snow on most roads by midnight.
Overnight: Moderate to heavy snow (snowfall rates of 1” – 2” per hour) changing quickly to rain starting at the coast around midnight and then moving inland to the Hartford area by 3:00 AM. Snow covered roads are expected to become slush covered by daybreak. Temperatures are forecast to rise into the upper 30’s by 6:00 AM. East winds increasing and gusting to 45 – 60 MPH at times along the coast and 35 – 45 MPH inland are expected to cause a high end minor impact on power outages. A few higher gusts are possible in any heavier showers or isolated thunderstorms that move across the state between 4:00 – 7:00 AM.
Monday Morning: Rain is expected across most of the state with some pockets of sleet or freezing rain in the NW hills. The rain is expected to begin turning back to light snow in Western CT by late in the morning.
COASTAL FLOODING: Moderate coastal flooding is expected during high tide tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM in Eastern Long Island Sound (LIS). High end moderate coastal flooding (see graph to the right for the Bridgeport area) is expected just before 11:00 AM in western Long Island Sound between East Haven and Greenwich. The strongest easterly winds (red line with arrows) should occur around 5:00 AM, thus keeping the impact just below major levels. At high end moderate flood levels, many low lying roads will be inundated by 1 – 3 feet of water. Also, dozens of homes along the coast between Greenwich and East Haven will likely see some flooding in basements and crawl spaces.
Monday Afternoon: The light snow is forecast to end by late afternoon. Total accumulations are expected to range from less than 1” in southern CT, 1” – 3” in the northern valleys, 3” – 6” in the NE and most of the NW Hills and 6” – 10” in the highest elevations of the NW Hills.
DESPP/DEMHS will send out another update at 7:00 AM or sooner if the forecast changes