WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…LARGE STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO BRING A MIX OF SNOW / SLEET AND RAIN TO OUR AREA TONIGHT INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY…STRONG WINDS MAY CAUSE SOME POWER OUTAGES ALONG WITH MINOR TO MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING…
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…LARGE STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO BRING A MIX OF SNOW / SLEET AND RAIN TO OUR AREA TONIGHT INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY…STRONG WINDS MAY CAUSE SOME POWER OUTAGES ALONG WITH MINOR TO MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING…
A large storm system currently located in Arkansas is forecast to move to the northeast today and into the Ohio valley this evening. A secondary low is forecast to form over southern New Jersey tonight and move towards Cape Cod on Saturday. Temperatures are not as cold and the air is not as dry as the previous storm. Therefore, more of a mix of sleet and rain is expected with this storm. Here’s the latest forecast based on a blend of the GFS, NAM and HRRR models:
This Afternoon: Increasing cloudiness with highs in the low 40’s and a light southeast breeze at 5 – 10 MPH.
This Evening and Tonight: A mix of snow, sleet and rain is expected to move into southwestern CT around 7:00 PM and spread across the state by 9:00 PM. The precipitation may change to wet snow for a few hours as temperatures cool into the low 30’s. However, a rain/snow line is expected to start moving into central CT from southern CT by 11:00 PM and into the Hartford area by midnight. A complete changeover to sleet and rain is expected in northern CT by 2:00 AM. A mix of sleet and rain in northern CT with plain rain in southern CT is expected to continue into early Saturday morning. The impact on overnight travel is expected to be minor with just a light coating of slush on most roads. Easterly winds are forecast to begin increasing around midnight and gust to 50 MPH at times along the coast by daybreak. These winds may cause a minor number of outages.
Saturday Morning: The precipitation is expected to change back to light snow from NW to SE during the morning. The strong easterly winds are forecast to subside between 6:00 – 9:00 AM, however, water stacking in Long Island Sound overnight is expected to remain in the sound and cause minor to moderate flooding during the times of high tide from 7:24 AM (New London) to 9:28 AM (Stamford). Low lying roads and parks are expected to be inundated by 1 – 2 feet of water. Most structures should remain dry. Any light snow is expected to end early Saturday afternoon.
DESPP / DEMHS will continue to monitor this approaching winter weather.