HIGH WIND WATCHES ISSUED FOR NEW LONDON COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING…STRONG WINDS AND MODERATE RAIN ARE EXPECTED…
HIGH WIND WATCHES ISSUED FOR NEW LONDON COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING…STRONG WINDS AND MODERATE RAIN ARE EXPECTED…
A strong storm system is forecast to pass to our northwest across upstate New York and Northern New England early Friday morning. As the storm system passes to our northwest, strong southerly winds are forecast to develop starting Thursday evening and reaching a peak early Friday morning. At this time, the strongest winds are forecast to occur between Thursday at Midnight and 8:00 AM Friday morning. Wind gusts during this period could range from 35 – 55 MPH inland up to 55 – 65 MPH along the south central and southeast coast. There is also a slight risk of thunderstorms early Friday morning which could result in isolated higher wind gusts.
Some tree damage is expected especially along the coast and the impact on power lines is currently expected to be a low-end moderate impact.
The impact on the afternoon rush hour Thursday is expected to be minor with south winds gusting to just 30 MPH at times. The impact for the morning rush hour on Friday is expected to be a high end minor impact with winds gusting to 50 – 60 MPH at times. The primary risk from these wind gusts are expected to be to high profile vehicles driving across exposed bridges.
There is also a slight risk for a few ice jams in western CT where the thin snowpack could be melted by the combination of mild temperatures in the low 50’s and around an inch of rainfall. Recent cold weather has allowed ice to thicken on rivers (e.g. the Housatonic near Kent) and streams in western CT. Minor flooding could break up some of the ice and cause some jamming in the normally prone locations.
DESPP / DEMHS will continue to monitor the latest forecasts.