Major Storm Forecast For CT: Here's What To Expect And When

CONNECTICUT — The National Weather Service said a powerful coastal storm is expected to impact the entire state late Thursday and for most of Friday.

Currently, it appears most of the snow will stay to our north. Current weather models show the storm will bring mainly rain to Connecticut and strong wind gusts.

However, both the weather service and local meteorologists say that the exact track of the coastal storm could change and wintry impacts can't be ruled out either.

"Latest trends indicate it could hug the coast, therefore we’d see a variety of types," said WFSB 3 TV Chief Meteorologist Mark Dixon with Scot Haney. "If it were to go farther offshore, this would a snowier scenario. Conversely, if it goes west (what we call an inside runner), it would be a wetter scenario. The wind will also increase as we close out the week." (Watch the WFSB 3 TV weather forecast here).

AccuWeather.com said the "worst of the storm" will be on Friday. Once the storm departs, cold weather moves in, and there will be "multiple days with highs in the 30s and nighttime lows in the 20s are in the offing for next week." (Read more forecast details at AccuWeather.com).

Southern Connecticut forecast details via the National Weather Service

"The long term forecast continues to have an impactful weather event for the Thursday into Friday nighttime period."

The weather service said we can expect "some precipitation to move in mainly by Thursday afternoon for western areas, overspreading the rest of the forecast area by Thursday evening....Exactly where this low develops and tracks, will have a significant impact on the type of weather we will get."

A majority of the weather models show the low pressure system will track over the tri-state area, and this would produce a warmer, rainier outcome for the area. It's possible that interior sections of southern Connecticut could begin with a brief period of frozen precipitation, but it's expected to transition to plain rain quickly. For now, the I-95 corridor towns are looking at just plain rain.

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Northern Connecticut forecast details via the National Weather Service

The weather service said that the current models favor accumulating snow to the north of Connecticut, especially in the high terrain of western Massachusetts.

"Elsewhere, odds favor a chilly, windswept rain, especially for coastal plain, where a low level easterly jet...quickly erodes the cold air. This strong low level jet may also translate to wind gusts up to 35-45 mph, so wind advisories may be need for the coastline," the weather service said.