SLOW MOVING COASTAL STORM WILL BRING RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL CONNECTICUT TODAY INTO THIS EVENING…FLOOD WATCHES IN EFFECT FOR FAIRFIELD, NEW HAVEN AND LITCHFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING
SLOW MOVING COASTAL STORM WILL BRING RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL CONNECTICUT TODAY INTO THIS EVENING…FLOOD WATCHES IN EFFECT FOR FAIRFIELD, NEW HAVEN AND LITCHFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING
At 7:45 AM radar showed bands of moderate to heavy rain moving slowly from south to north across the state. The heaviest band of rain is currently moving into Fairfield county and the NWS has issued Flash Flood Warnings for western Long Island and NYC. Flood warnings may be issued for Fairfield county in the next 60 minutes.
Additional bands of heavy rain (rainfall rates of 1” – 2” per hour) are expected to move from south to north over western and central CT during the day today. With soils already saturated, towns can expect some urban and small stream flooding today into this evening. Urban flooding will occur if rainfall rates exceed 1” per hour and small stream flooding will occur if any towns receive more than 2” in 3 hours. Basement flooding is also very likely to occur. The rainfall is expected to slowly taper off tonight.
Total rainfall is forecast to generally range from 4’ – 6” in southwestern CT and 2” – 4” across most of the rest of the state. Towns are advised to watch for any showers or thunderstorms that become stationary. If storms become stationary or train over the same towns repeatedly, higher rainfall totals and more significant flooding are possible.
Towns should report any significant flooding to their DEMHS Regional Offices as time permits.
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will continue to closely monitor this ongoing storm.