LONG DURATION MIXED RAIN/SLEET/WET SNOW EVENT EXPECTED ON FRIDAY…NO WATCHES ISSUED AT THIS TIME…
LONG DURATION MIXED RAIN/SLEET/WET SNOW EVENT EXPECTED ON FRIDAY…NO WATCHES ISSUED AT THIS TIME…
A slow moving cold front is forecast to move across our area on Friday. As this front moves from northwest to southeast across the state a low pressure system is forecast to move along the front coming up from the Washington D.C. area into southern New England Friday morning. Temperatures early Friday morning are forecast to be in the upper 30’s, but are expected to fall to near freezing by mid-morning on Friday. Here’s a detailed forecast based on the current GFS and NAM models:
Friday Morning: Rain, becoming moderate at times by daybreak. The rain is forecast to change to a mix of sleet and freezing rain in the NW hills by 6:00 AM. In the Danbury and Hartford areas the rain is forecast to change over to sleet between 6:00 – 8:00 AM. Plain rain is expected along the coast and in southeastern CT. Most roads should be only wet with a minor impact for the morning rush hour. Temperatures in central CT are forecast to drop from the upper 30’s before daybreak down to near freezing by 9:00 AM.
Friday Afternoon: Sleet and freezing rain in the NW hills is forecast to change to wet snow by early afternoon. Sleet in central CT is forecast to continue thru the afternoon with rain in southeastern CT. Temperatures are forecast to hold near 30 F in central CT and in the mid 30’s near the coast. Some of the wet snow and sleet may start sticking to any untreated roads by the afternoon rush hour in the NW hills and across central CT. A minor impact is expected with a few slick spots for the afternoon rush hour.
Friday Evening: The mixed precipitation is forecast to end as light wet snow by 8:00 PM. Some black ice can be expected to develop as temperatures fall into the mid 20’s.
Note: Some glazing from freezing rain is also possible in the NW hills, however significant icing is not expected.
DESPP / DEMHS will continue to monitor the latest forecasts