Powerful, Long-Duration Storm To Bring Heavy Snow, Rain To CT

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut isn't the largest state, but the forecast for this powerful, long-lasting coastal storm and its expected impacts varies signficantly and sometimes within the same county.

For example, a winter storm warning is in effect for far northern sections of Litchfield County where up to 10 inches of snow is possible. While, in southern portions of Litchfield County, very little snow is forecast and an advisory isn't even posted.

In far northern sections of Hartford County up to 6 inches of snow is possible, while in southern portions of the same county no snow accumulation is expected. Quite an interesting and complex storm.

It appears the accumulating snow is largely confined to far northern sections of Litchfield and Hartford counties and the rest of the state will see a couple of inches of rain and wind gusts up to 50 mph, especially in Middlesex and New London counties. Flooding is also a concern along the immediate coast, the National Weather Service said.

Timeline, specifics via the WFSB 3 TV weather team

"It’s after the evening commute that precipitation begins --- and is with us all day tomorrow --- then, ends by daybreak Saturday. In total, a nearly 36-hour event," said Chief Meteorologist Mark Dixon with Scot Haney.

"We will see it all in our small state. While at the onset there could be wintry precipitation (a mix/snow), areas southeast of I-84, it will go over to a windswept rain (temps rise with a developing easterly/onshore flow). Meanwhile, in the higher terrain of Litchfield County --- as temps stay colder, this is where we likely get a prolonged period of snow (that could be heavy at times, totaling 6-12″ with locally higher amounts near the Massachusetts border).

"Where we see rain, it could also be heavy… but unlikely to the point we’d have flooding concerns (outside of typical/prone areas for poor drainage). The wind intensity ramps up as the nor’easter gets stronger moving up the coast. The highest gusts will be realized over the Cape/Islands, but across SE CT we could see gusts close to 40 mph. As the system winds down tomorrow night, the wind becomes more northerly. As this happens, we could see a quick transition over to snow before precipitation ends. Despite this, we don’t expect any additional meaningful accumulation." (Watch the WFSB 3 TV weather forecast here).

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Here are forecast updates by county according to the National Weather Service:

Interior sections of Fairfield County:

Today: A slight chance of rain between 2pm and 5pm, then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 2am. Low around 35. East wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Rain. High near 41. East wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 2am, then a chance of snow. Low around 31. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Coastal sections of Fairfield County:

Today: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Northeast wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: Rain. Temperature rising to around 41 by 4am. Breezy, with an east wind 16 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 45. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Interior sections of New Haven County:

Today: A chance of rain and snow after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: A chance of rain and snow before 7pm, then rain. Temperature rising to around 38 by 4am. East wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Rain. High near 42. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind 9 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Coastal sections of New Haven County:

Today: A 40 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. East wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 7pm. Low around 37. East wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 45. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Middlesex County forecast details:

A wind advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. t0 6 p.m. Friday for coastal areas of Middlesex and New London counties. East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. East wind 3 to 7 mph.

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 7pm. Low around 36. East wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 43. Northeast wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

New London County forecast details:

A wind advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. t0 6 p.m. Friday for coastal areas of Middlesex and New London counties. East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Rain. Steady temperature around 40. East wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 46. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Litchfield County forecast details:

A winter storm warning is in effect from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday for far northern sections of Litchfield County.

"Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulation of 4 to 10 inches across the northern Taconics, western Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph...Snowfall amounts will vary by elevation. Best chance for greater than a foot will be at locations above 2000 feet in elevation. Snowfall rates may reach one inch per hour at times, especially early Friday morning and again on Friday late afternoon and evening."

In southern sections of Litchfield County, the weather service said "A coastal storm will bring some snow to the region tonight before mixing with rain by daybreak Friday. A light accumulation is expected and a Winter Weather Advisory could be needed. A coastal storm will continue impacting the region for Friday into Saturday morning with a mix of rain and snow. Additional light snow accumulation is possible. If more moderate amounts are expected, a Winter Weather Advisory will be needed.

Hartford County forecast details:

"While most of Hartford county will experience rain Thursday night and Friday, the northwest corner of the county where elevations are at or greater than 1000 ft, temperatures will be cold enough to support heavy wet snow. Snow accumulations of 3-6 inches are possible in this small area of the county, including the town of Hartland. Higher amounts are possible toward the Litchfield and Hampden county lines. Heaviest snow falls late Thursday night into Friday. The
combination of heavy wet snow and gusty northeast winds, may result in power outages in this region. In addition, snow covered roads will make for treacherous travel conditions."

Today: A slight chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 10pm. Low around 35. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 42. Northeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 2am, then rain likely, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 33. North wind 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: A chance of rain and snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain between 10am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tolland County forecast details:

Today: A slight chance of rain and snow after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. East wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Snow, mainly after 10pm. Low around 34. East wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Rain. High near 42. Breezy, with an east wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 3am, then snow likely. Low around 32. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 11am, then a slight chance of rain between 11am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Windham County forecast details:

Today: A slight chance of rain after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 10pm. Low around 35. East wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 43. Breezy, with an east wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 3am, then a slight chance of snow between 3am and 4am, then a chance of rain and snow after 4am. Low around 33. Northeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain between 10am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.