'Big' Thunderstorms May Bring Large Hail, 'Damaging' Wind Gusts To CT Monday

CONNECTICUT — The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Fairfield, Hartford and Litchfield counties up until 8 p.m. Monday.

WTNH News 8 chief meteorologist Gil Simmons said on social media Monday that we need to keep an eye on the sky between 4-9 p.m. Monday for the chance of "some big thunderstorms."

"Some of these storms could have a damaging wind gust, hail and lots of lightning! There is a tornado threat in New York State that could try to move our way," Simmons wrote. (See the full WTNH News 8 weather forecast here).

The National Weather Service said in a statement for southern Connecticut that "Thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front on Monday have the potential to produce damaging winds. Large hail and an isolated tornado may also be possible."

And for northern Connecticut, the weather service said, "A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this evening roughly between 5 to 9 pm across western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut with the greatest risk west of the Connecticut River Valley. The main threat will be locally strong to damaging wind gusts along with heavy rain/brief poor drainage street flooding. The activity is anticipated to weaken as it moves further east."

"These thunderstorms will have the potential to produce a variety of hazards including torrential downpours, hail, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes," AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards cautioned. (Read more at Accuweather.com).

After this expected stormy Monday, the remainder of the week, as of now, looks good with sunshine and warmer temperatures. (See full forecast details below).

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Here are the extended forecast details for southern Connecticut:

Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then a chance of showers between 10pm and 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 55. West wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. West wind 10 to 16 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 52. West wind 7 to 11 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 10 to 13 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Here are the extended forecast details for northern Connecticut:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers between 9pm and 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 56. South wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning.