High heat is in the forecast today in Connecticut, with potentially severe thunderstorms expected this weekend, according to meteorologists.
The National Weather Service predicts Friday will be mostly sunny, dry and hot, with highs in the 90s inland and upper 80s toward the coast.
An air quality alert is in effect from 11 a.m. Friday morning through 11 p.m. tonight for southern Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties due to ground level ozone, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The early part of Saturday is expected to be dry, but showers and potential thunderstorms will arrive Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.
“Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Saturday evening into early Sunday across portions of southern New England,” the National Weather Service said. “Main hazards include damaging wind gusts, lightning, and heavy downpours.”
The timeframe of highest concern is between 6 p.m. and midnight on Saturday, though some storms may linger overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
WFSB predicts neither day of the weekend will be a washout. For Saturday, it predicts the day begins dry and hot, then an approaching cold front will bring possible storms Saturday evening.
“Any storm that does develop could be on the stronger side; in fact, most of CT is under a level 2 risk for severe weather from the Storm Prediction Center. We’ve gone ahead and issued a First Alert Weather Day for this time period,” WFSB reported.
WTNH also cautions people on Saturday to “keep an eye out for scattered late afternoon/evening thunderstorms that could be severe! Some could have strong wind gusts and lots of lightning!”
WFSB has updated its Sunday forecast, and says it won’t be as wet as it previously predicted.
“We’ll start the day dry and bright, then during the afternoon isolated showers will be possible. Also, it will be relatively cooler with highs in the lower 80s (so still above average),” WFSB reports.
WTNH predicts Sunday could have scattered showers and storms developing during the afternoon.
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. Light west wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Light and variable wind.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. Light south wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 89. Light southwest wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. West wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
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