WINTER STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR NORTHERN CT…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN CT…MODERATE WINTER STORM EXPECTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING…
WINTER STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR NORTHERN CT…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN CT…MODERATE WINTER STORM EXPECTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING…
The NWS has now issued Winter Storm Warnings for Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties and Winter Weather Advisories for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties. A large low pressure system is now taking shape in Tennessee this evening and will move northeast towards New York state overnight. A weaker low pressure system is taking shape off the Virginia coast and will move towards Long Island. Neither of these low pressure systems will be very strong, however they will both converge to bring a lot of precipitation into New England. Enough cold air is anchored over our area this evening for the precipitation to start as a 6 – 9 hour period of moderate to heavy snow followed by a change to sleet and rain. The following forecast is based on a blend of the GFS, NAM and NWS forecasts:
Tonight: Snow is still forecast to spread across the state from southwest to northeast between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM and come down moderate to heavy (snowfall rates of 1” – 1.5” per hour) at times between midnight and 6:00 AM Friday morning. Roads are forecast to quickly become snow covered across the entire state with temperatures in the upper 20’s.
Friday Morning: Moderate to heavy snow is forecast to be falling across most of the state at the start of the rush hour. A high end moderate impact on driving is expected with a few inches of snow on most roads. The snow is expected to change to a mix of sleet and freezing rain along the southwest coast starting at 6:00 AM (see yellow dashed line on map). The mix line is forecast to move north and reach the Hartford area by 8:00 AM and the MA border by 9:00 AM. Temperatures are forecast to reach freezing in the Hartford area just after noon.
Friday Afternoon: Sleet and freezing rain is forecast to taper off to drizzle just after noon. The impact on the afternoon rush hour is expected to be minor. Roads by 3:00 PM are expected to be plowed with just some slush on shoulders and ramps. Total snowfall is expected to range from 2” – 4” in southern CT, 4” – 6” in central CT and 6” – 8” in Northern CT. There may be a little more snow in the NW hills.
DESPP/DEMHS will continue to closely monitor this winter storm.